Mark 4:40 – He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
It was evening when they finished meeting with the crowds beside the sea, and their leader felt it would be a good idea to get into a boat and head to the other side. They set sail for the eight-mile crossing. Other boats were doing the same thing. During their journey, a great windstorm came up and they often did from the desert lands. Waves were breaking into the boat, and it was starting to be swamped with the seawater. The men manning the sail or the oars looked around to find their leader asleep on a cushion. They shook him awake.
“Teacher,” they cried, “do you not care that we are perishing?”
Waking, he looked around and rebuked the wind. Then he said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!”
The wind ceased, and there was a great calm on the waves.
Their leader said to the men, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
At that, a different fear, one of being awestruck, filled the men. “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
The story from Mark 4 recounted here reminds you that faith, even for people who walk daily with the Lord, is a difficult commodity in the middle of storms. He wasn’t going to let them perish, but Jesus had a big lesson to teach His disciples: He is God, and He can control everything!
When the wind and sea obey His direct command in an instant, you can know that there is nothing too big for Him. Do not let the terrors of the moment overwhelm your soul. He is with you. He commands every breath you take. He will not leave you. Exercise your faith with greater trust in Christ today.
Pray With Us
Dear Lord Jesus, like your disciples of long ago, even when I know you are with me, I sometimes grow fearful when I look around at the turmoil the world and my country is experiencing. You can calm the waves. You can still the wind. And I know You could crush this wretched virus with a word. But I trust you to bring about Your purpose in the world through this, even as I watch others who might have never uttered a word to You, suddenly feel like they should pray. Help me to show them that You are here. Help me reveal Your love to them. Keep me in the shelter of Your arms during this storm. Thank you, O my God,
Amen.
