On Friday, Ollie and I were visiting some friends, and after having a good meal, we headed home. It was storming. Lightning flashed and the rain poured. Thunder rolled, and we both wondered if we had made a good decision to head for home in a storm. After driving and praying for about fifteen minutes, the storm started to cease. We were both grateful and gave thanks for our safety.

The disciples and Jesus were caught in a storm. Mark 4: 35-41 recounts an event in which Jesus had been preaching to a crowd. After preaching to the crowd, he was tired and needed to rest. He directed the disciples to take the boat to the other side of the sea so that he could rest. As they set sail, a storm came up and the boat was rocking and reeling. It was a scary and dangerous situation. Jesus slept in the stern of the ship during the storm and fear caused the disciples to wake him. They asked Jesus a most important question, “Master, do you care that we are perishing?” Of course, Jesus was concerned about their safety. He, therefore, arose and said to the winds and the waves, “Peace, be still”. The storm stopped immediately.

Storms arise in our daily lives. We live with storms of illnesses, economic crises, unemployment, work deferments and furloughs, homelessness, injustices, etc. These storms rage out of hand sometimes, and too often, we have no idea what to do about them. We must keep the faith. We must believe that Jesus will calm the storms that are raging in our lives. Our faith must be strong enough to know that Jesus is the Master of everything and has control over all things. If we keep this in mind, he will keep us safe and will provide for all of our needs. Jesus will bring us through the toughest storms if we have enough faith. Pastor Robert Thought for the Week:

The winds and the waves shall obey my will, peace be still.

Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons, or men, or whatever it be.

No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies;

They all shall sweetly obey my will, peace be still, peace be still.

~~Mary Baker