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125. Jesus Calms the Storm


Mark 4:35-41, Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25, Psalm 46:10,
Key Verse: “Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10

Imagine having God right with you, so close that you could reach out and touch Him, and still being afraid. This is exactly the situation these men found themselves in. He was right there, in the boat with them, but they still had fear. Some of them were fishermen, experienced at sea, yet, in the moment, even they had fear.

“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38a) How like us. “Lord," we cry out in panic, "don’t you care? Why aren’t you acting immediately to ease my suffering or give me an answer?”

Jesus wasn’t worried. He knew who was in control. “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8) What good was all that worrying and panic doing for the disciples anyway? I suppose it could make them bail faster, but that would be about all. Jesus had told them not to worry earlier in His Sermon on the Mount, because it was wasted energy. How might this have gone differently if the men had trusted instead of fretting?

The wind and the waves weren’t the only ones who received a rebuke from their Lord that night. “He replied,…You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Well, that was a good question. After all, God was with them. Sadly, the wind and the waves behaved better and obeyed more quickly than the disciples, or we often do. I want to give the disciples in the boat a bit of a break though. At that point in the story they really didn't know Jesus is God. No break for us though. We do know! Now to act like it!

What would our lives look like if we could trust and obey God that completely? What could we do if we truly believed that He is always with us? How would we obey if He were truly Lord of our lives and trusted that we are His and He watches over His own?

Sometimes He calms the storm around us and sometimes He calms the storm within us. He will choose what is best. One thing we can be assured of, “You, (meaning God,) will keep in perfect peace the one whose mind is steadfast, because that one trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3) His peace is near even if your answer is not, but His peace will help you to bear the waiting. He is ready to calm our storms, but will we let Him?

Hymn: “God Moves In a Mysterious Way His Wonders To Perform”
Also, “I’ll Praise You in the Storm,” by Casting Crowns 

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