Jesus Stills the Storm

 

Jesus Stills the Storm

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.  And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?"  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"    (Mark 4:35-41)  

WHAT an incredible story!!!  Can you just picture this?  Many of the disciples are fishermen - they are used to the storms that arise on their waters.  Yet this storm is so strong that they fear for their lives!  And Jesus is asleep!!!  And HE'S the one who told them to go out there in the first place!  

Let's start with that one - sometimes God will lead us into situations we cannot handle on our own.  Good thing, too, as we have this annoying human tendency to forget that apart from Him we can do nothing - especially in areas of life where we have some skill or past experience.  We can motor along for quite some time without even acknowledging God, let alone asking Him to lead us, empower us or enable us to do what He would like us to do.  Then suddenly we are hit with a situation that is clearly beyond us, and we call out to Him.

Interesting that He was asleep in this instance.  He wasn't worried about them dying . . . but rather than recognize His peace, they interpreted it as a lack of care and concern on His behalf for them.  They came right out and said "Don't You care that we're going to die?!!!"  I can't help but wonder how that must have hurt Jesus to hear that . . . yet isn't that often our accusation?  In the face of a natural disaster, people will say "Where was God?", as if He were somehow off doing something else and failed to act on our behalf.  The tendency of most is to point our finger at God when life challenges us or disappoints us.  But Jesus was always truthful in His teaching.  "In this world you will have trouble," He declared, "but take heart, for I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)

Then He stands up and tells the wind to be quiet and the waves to be still - and immediately all is calm.  The Bible says there is a GREAT calm.  Wow.  The Creator speaks to His creation and there is immediate obedience.  What power He has!  Interestingly, this actually frightens His disciples.  They believed He was the Messiah - they had left everything to follow Him.  They were eyewitness of His miraculous healings and His powerful, authoritative teaching.  Yet in the face of this they breathe out to each other "Who is this, that even the winds and the waves obey Him?"  

Oh I want my faith to be shaken up like that too!  Forgive me Father, for getting comfortable with You . . . for being so casual in Your presence that I forget who You really are; that You are awesome in power and might, pure and holy and sovereign over me, over all humanity, over creation - over everything!  Forgive me for regularly underestimating You - for having little faith, faith that is small in the face of Your enormity.  Help me to lift up my eyes beyond what I know and expect to see You move in ways I could never have imagined!  Enlarge my understanding of You, my dependence on You, my hope in You.

And Lord, help me to know that sometimes You will calm the storm, but sometimes You will allow the storms to rage and instead calm me.  Thank You that no matter what You lead me to, I can trust You to lead me through.  Thank You that You have promised again and again throughout Your word that You will never leave me nor forsake me.  Thank You that no situation ever catches you unaware, off-guard or unprepared.  You always know what You are doing, and what You intend to accomplish.  I believe . . . help my unbelief. 

(Here is the link to the kid's post:  http://elizabethtreger1.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-countdown-dec-7.html)