As I was looking up Bible passages for today, “a great windstorm arose” (Mark 4:37a) here in Ohio. How fitting.
We’ve had strong winds nearly every day (or so it seems). The wind is accentuated by our numerous chimes, which hang over the front porch. They clang in a fervor–a sharp contrast to the beautiful, calming sound they make on less windy days.
Then, as quickly as their mad dance began, they suddenly ceased moving. The storm dissipated. All that remained was silence and peace. “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39b).
How often do we find ourselves in the midst of a storm? Sometimes, the storm seems to come out of nowhere. It blindsides us, and we become fearful. We may even ask God, “Do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38b).
Of course, He cares. He loves us and asks us to take everything to Him. Yet, we’re like the fearful disciples on that boat. We are afraid. We need God to be awake and present for us. We forget or lose sight of the fact that He is always with us—that He can just hold out His hand and command the storm to cease.
Father, we come to You today in the midst of our own storms. May the person reading this feel Your presence and cling to Your Word. May he/she have a renewed sense of faith in Your ability and will to quiet the storm. We pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 4:35-41 NKJV
