When things are just... stressful.

What do you normally do when you are in a scary situation? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed when work and assignments are piling up. Sometimes they are out of our control. Or, perhaps, you look at this world or a news article and wonder when there will be peace.

In Mark 4, the disciples found themselves suddenly in a storm. They were in a boat, thinking they would simply just get to the other side of the lake by morning. Verses 37-38 say, " A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'” When the squall appeared, the disciples thought they were going to die. All they could see was themselves in a boat that was being swamped and washed over by ginormous waves in the middle of the lake. At night.

It is very easy to assume the worst in situations like these, and even like the disciples, to feel that we are going to drown. But the following verses of this small account are powerful: "[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'” At the command of his word, Jesus stilled the wind, the waters and the sea. He turned to his disciples and didn't say, "Wow, guys, are you ok?" He pointed to their FAITH ("Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"). Jesus wants us to have faith in him in our circumstances. He does not want us to be like the boats, easily tossed by the wind and the waves. With him in our boats with us, we can call upon HIS name to stop the waves from crashing over.

I learned recently Jesus wants my eyes to be fixed upon him. Not the storm. Not the situation, and the little things that demand attention. But on Him. And that is where peace comes. That enables a spirit of faith to come in and not only rebuke the wind and the waves of the storm, but also the wind and waves of the fear. Yes, amen. May we know Jesus is in the boat with us daily, that he loves us with an everlasting love, and listens to our cries. And above all else, may we also have a faith in Him that clings to His power and authority to silence the storm.

Reference: Mark 6:35-41