by Dona Hake
Yesterday as I was driving with my Granddaughters my youngest began talking about the miracles of Jesus. One by one she recounted and shared of all the stories that she has been taught. I loved hearing the faith and sweet belief in her voice as she shared each one. I can remember talking with people that just want to reason away and discredit the miracles of our Lord. How sweet it is as a believer when we come to know our Lord is the One that is able to do the impossible. Today I share one of my favorite stories of Jesus doing one of those out of the norm things in the midst of a bad storm. His disciples were fearful of the raging storm, and Jesus with just a few words made them realize the power in the living words that He spoke.
Mark 4:35-40
“It was evening of that same day. Jesus said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” After sending the people away, they took Jesus with them in a boat. It was the same boat He used when He taught them. Other little boats went along with them. A bad wind storm came up. The waves were coming over the side of the boat. It was filling up with water. Jesus was in the back part of the boat sleeping on a pillow. They woke Him up, crying out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?” He got up and spoke sharp words to the wind. He said to the sea, “Be quiet! Be still.” At once the wind stopped blowing. There were no more waves. He said to His followers, “Why are you so full of fear? Do you not have faith?”
This is one of those stories that make me wish I would have been there just to see the raging waters be calmed at the command of Jesus’ voice. These words from this portion of scripture have created faith in my heart many times when things around me seemed to be out of control. To know that He can bring peace to the raging waters of my life causes me to know that “it is well with my soul.”
The important thing to remember is that God is able to bring peace to a situation yet that does not necessarily mean the problem has gone away. When God’s peace prevails within us, our hearts will be still and we will be calmed. It is in those times that you will then be able to hear His whisper as He directs you into the next step. Let us remember that in the midst of a problem or crisis that it is vital we hold fast to our faith and have our ears towards the Lord that He may reveal the wisdom that we need.
I leave you with this quote from Francious deFenelon which makes this story from the book of Mark even more real.
“A word from the Lord stilled the raging sea
and a glance from Him to you, and from
you to Him, will do the same for you.”