Calming the Storms

Text Mark 4:35-41
(See also Matthew 8:18-27, Luke 8:22-25)

The events recorded in the above scriptures take place as Jesus is teaching along the Galilean sea shore and on the sea.  At one point during His message to those along the shore He moved into a boat so it could serve as a platform for teaching.  It’s evening.  It has been a strenuous day and He is tired.  At this point Jesus directed His disciples to take a boat, probably the same one He was teaching from, to the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  Here He would be removed from the multitudes and have a chance to rest as well as minister to the people in that less populated area.

Since Jesus was exhausted He laid down in the stern of the boat falling fast asleep while His disciples took the boat eastward.  Everything appeared routine when a sudden storm arose on the sea.  The Sea of Galilee because of its location and the surrounding topography is noted for violent storms coming unexpectedly upon mariners.  Waves broke over the edge of the boat and it was almost swamped.  Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen and had spent much of their lives on this very sea.  The storm was real.  The danger was real.  The fear was real.

All of us have faced storms in our lives.  Meteorological storms can be terrifying.  Metaphorical storms can be even more frightening and devastating.  Some of the storms we face are brought on by our own bad choices and we suffer the consequences of those choices.  At other times, we have no control.

Who of us has not dealt with a sudden illness, either striking us or one of our loved ones?  Who has not experienced the loss of someone close and felt the devastation of attending the funeral to say an earthly goodbye.  Perhaps something has happened to one of your children.  Maybe you are being mistreated by others, even persecuted.  Trouble on the job?  At school?  Could be financial difficulties.  Often these storms come one on top of the other.  It becomes one thing after another until you are ready to send up the white flag and scream, “Enough!”

I remember that 1991 was an especially difficult year for me.  Among other things I had broken my collar bone (clavicle) and had had pneumonia.  I felt like a dark cloud was hovering over me at all times and so did those who were close to me.  The situation was so obvious that my fellow students in my karate class gave me a T-shirt that said, “I Survived 1991.”  Each of the students and my teacher signed the shirt but they did not dare hand it to me until after January 1, 1992.

These storms can also show up in the church.  When things seem to be going well, watch out.  The church both locally and universally is constantly battling against those who would sow discord, teach false doctrine, and generally cause trouble.  Additionally, those outside of the church do much to attempt to discredit the cause of Christ and our purpose for living.  When we should be enjoying the victory in Christ, we sometimes find ourselves barely hanging on through the storms.

Sometimes, we are almost swamped feeling totally overwhelmed.  This is where Jesus’s disciples were.  The disciples woke the sleeping Master.  “Teacher, don’t you care?”  Are you unaware of our danger?  Do you not care that we perish?  “Lord save us.”

How often have we asked, “Lord, are you unaware?  Don’t you care?”  “Why is this happening to me?”   

Jesus got up from His restful position and mildly rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith.  The Lord was under control because He is in control and the Lord who is in control cares for and about every one of us.

QUIET!  BE STILL!

Immediately the wind died down and the sea was calm.

We will always have storms in life and He will always care.  If we listen we can hear Him say, “Quiet, be still.”  He can calm the storms of sorrow.  He can calm the storms of trials.  He helps us to say, “Your grace is sufficient for me.”  (See II Corinthians 12:9)  Does this mean that life will become trouble free?  Absolutely not.  It does mean, however that “… in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him…” (Romans 8:28) and that “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  (Romans 8:37)

“ ‘Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted in all the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”  (Psalm 46:10-11)