Mark 4:35 That day, when evening had come, Yeshua said to them, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. 37 A furious windstorm arose, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was close to being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern on a cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, “Rabbi, doesn’t it matter to you that we’re about to be killed?” 39 He awoke, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind subsided, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no trust even now?” 41 But they were terrified and asked each other, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”Neither death, nor life . . . nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:38-39 (NRSV)]
In today’s reading, the disciples were overcome by fear and woke Jesus from a sound sleep. They cried out and questioned his care for them. But Jesus calmed the wind and waves with the command, “Peace! Be still!” Jesus then challenged the disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Similarly, the storms of life assault us with little or no warning. Winds of change scream and howl. We are tossed up on the shore like driftwood, where we may find ourselves lying among the wreckage of serious health problems, ruptured family relationships, or broken dreams.
When we face hard times, grief and pain can dominate our days and fear may visit us in the middle of the night. Like the disciples, we cry out, “Lord, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus may not instantly command these winds and waves, “Be still!” But he does say to us, “Peace!” He speaks with loving-kindness to comfort and strengthen us.
Scripture reminds us that our Lord will never leave us or forsake us. We are encouraged to cast all our cares, concerns, hurts, fears, and pain on God because God cares for us. (See 1 Pet. 5:7.)
Prayer focus: Those Recovering from Natural disasters
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