Mark 4:35-41 (New International Version, ©2010)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Lately, most days feel as if we are in the middle of a storm, a long, strong, steady storm and we don't know when it will end. Finding peace in this storm has been a daily challenge for me. There are days I just let the waves wipe me out and days when I see Jesus sleeping in the storm, full of peace, full of rest. It is hard to believe sometimes that the same Jesus who commands the wind and the waves, is on my side. He fights for me, He goes to bat for me. He will never let the storm get so big that I drown in it. The best part is, He is on my boat, experiencing the same storm I am and ...He is not afraid! In fact, He is sleeping!! He is so at peace with His plan for me that he has fallen asleep. You could interpret this that he is asleep when I need him most, but I see it that He is showing me to rest. He is showing me that I have nothing to fear, no matter how big the waves, how out of handle I feel the storm is getting, I can still find peace. When I cuddle up beside him, focus on him, somehow the storm doesn't seem to matter. He has it under control, I will not fall off the boat, I will not drown. He will see to it that I am safe. In the same way Jesus rebuked the waves saying, "Quiet, be still!" I feel He lovingly rebukes me. Then He says to his disciples,"Why are you so afraid, Do you still have no faith?" It wasn't about Jesus calming the storm, it was about His disciples trusting Him. He did not need to stop the waves, but He did it to show that He is in control. Maybe I should learn from the disciples mistake and trust God through the storm instead on insisting that He does not care or insisting He make the storm stop. I think of the eye of a hurricane, standing right in the middle with Jesus, peace in the middle of the storm.
This story has ministered to me a LOT during our adoption, particularly during the bankruptcy. My favourite part about this story is that Jesus TOLD the disciples to go across the lake. It was totally His idea! They acted in 100% obedience to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteThis little detail really helped me to get rid of all those awful feelings during the bankruptcy -- like, "What in the world were we THINKING??" and "Maybe we heard wrong, maybe God wasn't telling us to adopt after all." Knowing that the storms come, even in our obedience and even when Christ is in our boat, really is reassuring.
Hang in there Bekah! The Lord is with you and will calm this storm, just like He's calmed past storms in your life. He isn't threatened by the big waves and the pounding rain! He's in control and is going to bring about His perfect plan. :)
I just re-read this... and i needed to hear it again. Thank-you
DeleteIt is such a long and hard road. Every step of this journey makes you stronger and right now you are in the most difficult part of the whole journey... the waiting. It really does happen... hold on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this, Becka - I really needed to read that tonight.
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