Scripture & Thought
Mark 4:39-40 (NLT)
“When He woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the water, Quiet down!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. And He asked them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in Me?'”
Luke 8:25 (NLT)
“And they were filled with awe and fear of Him and said to one another, Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey Him?'”
“Master of the Wind”
“Whenever I am troubled and lost in deep despair
I bundle all my troubles up and go to God in prayer…
I tell Him I am heartsick and lost and lonely, too,
That my mind is deeply burdened and I don’t know what to do…
But I know He stilled the tempest and calmed the angry sea
And I humbly ask if in His love He’ll do the same for me…
And then I just keep QUIET and think only thoughts of PEACE
And if I abide in STILLNESS my ‘restless murmurings’ cease.”
— Helen Steiner Rice
Tired of winter? Hoping for temps above freezing? Wishing for the snow to be gone? Join the crowds that are not skiing this weekend. Winter storms in the mountains are welcomed by those who benefit from them. But storms at sea? Few vote for them. And no one prays for a storm to hit their frail craft, whether it is their personal boat or their life. But storms do find us, whether or not we are ready for them. You can read about the storm that caught the disciples by surprise in Mark 4 and Luke 8. Jesus questioned their faith, then stilled the storm.
Can Jesus calm my anxiety? Well, he did a number on a perfect storm that surprised the disciples on the Sea of Galilee. I suppose that if the winds and the waves obey him, my anxiety should not be too hard for him.
The Apostle Paul said that God did not give us the spirit of fear, “but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
If God is not the author of anxiety, we can conclude that he is against it. And if God is against it, so am I. So I will “just keep quiet” and have faith in Jesus to calm the storm that’s pounding on my frail craft. How about you?
Prayer: Lord, I believe you want me to be a person of “power, love and a sound mind” and I claim that promise for me today. My tendency is to think my fears are too big for you to handle. Sometimes I forget that you are the “Master of the wind and the Maker of the rain.” Thank you for reminding me that you “can calm a storm and make the sun shine again.”
Amen.