He Calms The Storm
“51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed…” (Mark 6:51)
It’s hard to be in a situation that leaves you feeling utterly helpless. It seems like every day when you wake up, the news is filling our minds with stories about storms, strikes, financial difficulties, possible food shortages, health issues and other things that can cause us worry and concern. It may seem like your once peaceful life has been turned and shaken like a snow globe causing you to feel a off balance. You are concerned for your children and what their life may be like as time goes on. When the stresses of life are leaving you feeling worried, fatigued and somewhat anxious, look to the One who can calm the storm. Look to Jesus.
The easiest way for us to get off track and allow our emotions to overwhelm us is to watch the storms come crashing around us. We fear because we have no control over the situation and we have no idea where it will take us. Instead of immediately praying or giving God time to act, we try to row ourselves out of the storm (situation) to safety until we can row no more and become weary and discouraged. This is what happened to the disciples when Jesus sent them across the lake to Bethsaida while He sent the people home after teaching them. After sending the people off, Jesus went up in the hills to pray. Mark 6:47-52 states the following:
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
Some of the disciples were seasoned fishermen and knew how to handle a boat in a storm, but this doesn’t mean they could handle every storm. And in this storm, they couldn’t even recognize Jesus. Some storms can take us by surprise and be extremely strong. When you travel in a car in the pouring rain, sometimes the drive is ok if you just take your time, but then there are those rain storms where your vision can be somewhat impaired due to the condition of the weather. So imagine being out in a boat, rowing on the water and trying to keep afloat with the water slapping against your face and the boat rocking back and forth. How would you feel? Frightened? Alone? Discouraged? When we are in the midst of a storm or trial, the strength of the storm can sometimes toss us around and come at us from all sides. We can become fearful to the point we may not recognize Jesus in the midst of our storm. This can leave us crying out in fear because our vision is impaired by the storm.
Jesus, however, seeing and hearing his disciples fear, immediately comforted them saying, “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped.”
When we row and row against our storm and we can see we aren’t progressing further, we just have to cry out to Jesus in the midst of our situation and He will help us and calm our fears. We must always remember we aren’t alone when we are going through trials and tribulations. We tend to think we have to do all of the work instead of realizing that there are some problems that are bigger than us that must be turned over to the Lord.
Psalm 107:29 tells us “He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed.”
If you are facing a storm and you are rowing and rowing and are becoming increasingly tired, set your oars down and call out to Jesus and ask Him for help. He knows exactly where you are and what needs to be done. Sometimes pride can cause us to continue rowing in our situation as society ingrains in us that we must “make it happen”. That’s a human perspective, not a godly one. Surrender pride and the problem to Jesus and ask Him to take care of the situation. Then rest in the Lord and wait for Him to work and for His direction. Take heart in knowing He will give you great endurance to weather the storm until He calms it down.