There are times when we all face storms whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is so easy to become afraid, to lose perspective. Various accounts in the Gospels share of how the disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, 4 of the 12 were experienced fisherman, a storm blew up that even they were afraid of. In Mark 4 we see that Jesus was sound asleep in the stern of the boat even though it was likely he was been splashed by water coming into the boat. The disciples were so afraid that the woke him up, and he stood up and rebuked the storm and all was calm.
How often do we seek God in the midst of our storms? Sometimes we may need to go through the storm so our faith may grow, but we can have confidence that God will be with us guiding and bringing us through
Mark 4 vs. 35-41 – Jesus Calms The Storm
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.
Jesus was exhausted have spoken to and fed the crowd, he needed to with his father abide
To get to the other side, find some peace and quiet, to keep things afloat
Jesus understood the need to re-charge, take time out to focus and not let things slide
To go away to a quiet place, spend time with his Father, and of him take note
To listen, to comprehend that which his Father wanted, to his will not tackle or undermine
He wasn’t worried about image, what others thought he was happy to sit in a boat
There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over
The boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
It is easy to get fazed by things around us, to not switch off, to not rest, but be a mover
Jesus slept in the midst of the squall, water sloshing over him, an uncomfortable position
Storms can unsettle and ruffle us, we feel ill equipped to handle them, and they tip us over
We struggle to see night from day, needing someone to catch us and the impact cushion
The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down
It’s easy for us to lose sight of God in the midst of the storm and we feel let down
Yet he says to us “Quiet, Be still!” listen to me, I can calm your storm, you won’t drown
Turn your eyes upon me, look full in my wonderful face, the things of earth will calm down
When you see my perspective, I can heal, be still and know I am your God, you won’t drown
And it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
It’s so easy to write off the disciples, but like us they were human, afraid, and felt in the storm far from safe
Bearing in mind some of them were professional fisherman the conditions were rough, the light dim
To have Jesus stand up in the boat and tell the storm to quieten was outside their understanding and faith
They were amazed at what he had done, “Who is this?” Even the wind and the waves obey him!
Would we have been any different in the circumstances, probably not I suspect how strong is our faith?
In this world we can easy get lost or too busy, is Jesus saying to you, “Quiet, Be Still” and come to him?
Mark Maffey, February 2008
(NIV)