Lately I have been having a rough time with a back injury. I’m so glad that Jenny wrote this piece:
This made no sense! The Master never makes mistakes, but this is a big one! He suggested we cross the lake. Now, here we are on the verge of sinking. In all my years of fishing, never have I seen a squall of this magnitude. We are taking in water alarmingly faster than we can possibly bail out, yet there he is sleeping! The waves rock violently almost tipping over the boat and yet he sleeps. His soaking wet body rests on a waterlogged cushion, yet he sleeps. We holler at each other just to hear above the howling wind and crashing waves. Yet he sleeps as peacefully as a well-fed baby in his mother’s arms.
OUR LOOMING DEMISE
When the wind first picked up, we realized a squall was coming and prepared for it. Most of us were seasoned fishermen and know what to do when bad weather strikes. But this was different. On the brink of disaster, we have no choice but to wake the Master and make him aware of our looming demise.
HOW COULD HE BE SLEEPING?
We wanted to let him rest, knowing how exhausted he is. Preaching and healing fatigues him at times. But how can a person rest in the middle of a raging storm? Frantically shouting and shaking him awake, we asked, “How can you be sleeping? We are going to drown in this storm! Don’t you care?”
WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
His eyes blink open and realizing the magnitude of the storm, he stands up and rebukes the wind and the waves. To our astonishment, immediately the wind stopped blowing and the sea turned to glass. Our mouths still agape as he turns toward us and compassionately rebukes us with one question; “Where is your faith?” (As told by one of the Twelve)
NO MISTAKE ON BEING ON THAT BOAT
How often I ponder these events and think of how the wind and waves obeyed the Lord. I understand there was no mistake about being in the boat that day. That storm proves a valuable lesson. We learn that Jesus, the creator of the universe, has all power and authority over nature. In all circumstances we need to stay focused on Christ and not be shaken by what is happening around us. Just as Jesus rested during the storm, we can rest in him and not be overwhelmed by life’s storms. We can aim to rest as peacefully as Jesus did that day on the boat.
HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR STORMS
Read Mark 4:35-41 and ponder the wonders of Jesus. What storms are you facing? Are you looking at the storm through spiritual eyes or earthly eyes? Do you stay in peace as life’s trials feel like waves crashing over the boat? Picture being on the boat with the disciples. Imagine the placid sea after Jesus’ rebuke. What a blessing to know the Savior who can calm all our storms. The storms are real, but they no longer need to rock us to our core.
Click to listen to the Lewis’ story of being in the center of the storm