Today read one of my favorite events from Mark’s Gospel, also captured by Matthew (8:23-27), and Luke (8:22–25). Let the words melt into your heart. Feel the wind and water as it slaps against your face, hear the wind howling and listen to the thunder as is crashed upon you.
“A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”” Mark 4:35-41
This is a terrifying scene. The boat is swamping, overwhelmed by this violent storm. Make no mistake if the level of the storm. Peter, Andrew and James, the professional fishermen, are not able to keep the boat afloat in this storm. All the disciples are afraid. Jesus sleeps on a cushion in the back. The disciples splash water over the side with their hands as their eyes, ears and senses are overwhelmed in fear at the storm about them.
Finally, they look to the aft. Jesus still sleeps. They wake Him, venting their fear upon Jesus. “Don’t You care?” And, how does Jesus react? He tells the storm, all creation, the disciples and you and I…
“Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10
Fear is normal, fear is the face of worry is lack of faith. FEAR – False Expectations Appearing Real. Faith overcomes fear. Even the biggest fear – death.
We need to look around with eyes of faith when the storms rage around us. If Jesus is present and He always is, then, why be afraid? Even if God appears to be asleep in the back of the boat as the waves crash over the side, there is no need to fear. Jesus is present in the midst of the storm.
Even in the absolute worst times, Jesus rebuked the storm of our life and consoles our heart, “Be still, and know that I am God!”
This is one of the biggest aspects of the true story captured in my book, “I Knew His Voice.” God is always present. If He is always present, with us, what is there to fear?