Instead of using my own words tonight (or morning, as it’s now 12:35 am) I am going to share a favorite passage from the book of Matthew. It’s where Jesus led his followers out onto a huge lake in a boat, then fell asleep. A terrible squall threatened to overtake the boat, and the more violent the storm became the more frantic and afraid the men grew, until they finally woke Jesus, screaming at him to save them.
When Jesus awoke, he was not only calm, but perplexed about their panic. He called them out on their weak faith and asked why they were so afraid. Jesus then spoke directly to the storm and told it to subside…..and it was still.
And the men in the boat were amazed….. and wondered who this Jesus was, that even the wind and waves obeyed him.
I don’t blame the guys for being afraid….I’m sure I would have been the first to shake Jesus and ask him to do something! But the thing is….Jesus knew there was no real danger. He knew the storm was a temporary situation that he could command away with a word. And so….he wasn’t afraid.
Oh to have that assurance! But I can’t….not in myself. I can’t do much about the violence in the world or the squalls in the lives of people I love, or even in the panic that grips my own heart at times. But…..I know the one who can. And sometimes I need to lay down the fear of the wind and waves and let that gentle stillness sweep over the bow of my heart.
Read the passage below, then, if you have a few minutes, listen to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, “Be Still”. And in that stillness……know that God is there.
Jesus Calms the Storm ~ Matthew 8:23-27
23″ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
