Mark 4:35-41 recounts the following event: “On that day, when evening came, [Jesus] said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’
“And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”
Much like this storm in the Bible, the storms of life arise unexpectedly and we can’t always be prepared. However, you need not fear! As long as Jesus is the Captain, it doesn’t matter who rocks the boat!
How can we have peace in the midst of the storm? First, recognize that “Jesus Himself” is with you in the midst of it.
Jesus knew that the storm was coming. Nevertheless, He instructed His disciples to get into the boat and cross over to the other side. Take heart, dear friend, Jesus is aware of the storms you face and He is with you in the midst of it and He will get you safely to the other side! Just remember, whatever you’re going through, you’re going through!
Second, appeal to Christ in prayer when you’re enduring hard times! Many times it appears that God is “asleep” when you need Him the most! However, He is but a prayer away. Simply “wake Him up” by calling on His name, and you will soon find that even if the wind doesn’t die down, you may become “perfectly calm” through the peace that prayer provides (see Philippians 4:6-7).
(Jessie J. Charpentier Sr. is pastor of Jenkins Memorial Baptist Church in St. Martinville.)
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