“A violent squall came up and waves were
breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in
the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you
not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the
sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm.” –Mark 4:37-39
The wind is
howling, rain is pelting the apostles, and waves are crashing over the sides of
the boat. Anyone who has lived through this kind of nightmare can identify with
the apostles’ terror. Yet through it all, Jesus is asleep in the stern. As the
apostles struggle to stay afloat, they wake Him up and accuse Him of not caring
that they’re all about to drown.
Jesus orders
the wind to stop and it does. As miraculous as that is, we may wonder: Why did
He allow the storm in the first place? Why didn’t He prevent it?
One answer is
that He knew that their fear would bring them closer to Him; it would make them
turn to Him for help. His stopping the storm let them witness His power, which
strengthened their faith in Him, which made them want to follow Him more
closely, which let them experience more of His love. Had the seas stayed calm,
none of that would have happened, at least not there.
God wants you to experience His love, too. Is your
boat being tossed around? Are you going through another storm right now? Do you
feel far away from God, or think He’s sleeping through your ordeal? If so, call
out to Him. Tell Him about your pain and your fears. Ask Him to guide you
through them.
Look for
Him, and see how He calms the storm through the people around you. If you’re
preparing for a funeral, maybe friends are calling, texting, or bringing you
meals to share in your sorrow and remind you that you’re not alone. If you’re
suffering with an illness, feel His love expressed through the people caring
for you. Maybe this downtime could be an opportunity to take care of yourself
by slowing down, talking with Him more, listening to Him more, and letting Him remind
you of His love for you. If you’re worried for someone else going through a
storm, follow His promptings to reach out to them. You may be an answer to
their prayers.
Trust that
God will be with you through every storm. Let your worry and fear inspire you
to turn to Him for help. Trust Him to use His power to rescue you in one way or
another. Let Him show you His love for you and strengthen you in body, mind, or
spirit.
“Lord, help me to trust
You’re with me when the storms are raging around me.”
Thank you for reading my reflection. © 2022 Gina
Bedell
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