And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
~Mark 4:39 (ESV)
Waves – just the thought brings to mind soothing sounds and mental images of beautiful seaside landscapes. Everybody loves waves, right?
That is… until they become strong and threaten us. Waves aren’t so appealing if you are in a small boat. Such was the case of the disciples in Mark chapter 4.
We all know the story – in the midst of the growing storm and crashing waves, Jesus slept while the disciples’ emotions shot up to panic level. They woke Him, and in so many words, told Him, “Hey, we’ve got a big problem here!”
And then Jesus said those famous words to the wind and waves and calmed them: Peace! Be Still! It could be that Jesus was saying this to the disciples as well, because, in the very next verse, He asks them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
In their amazement and incredulity, they wondered who He was that the wind and waves obeyed Him (Mark 4:41). And perhaps they began to realize that they were in the very presence of Yahweh Himself. God was with them in that little boat.
Raging storms, threatening waves, and vulnerable little boats are all apt metaphors for the problems we face in life. When we’re honest with ourselves, it is clear that on our own we are practically helpless in the face of overwhelming circumstances.
Yes, we have some power over our choices, and personal responsibility goes a long way when it comes to staying out of trouble, but there are times that the storms are overwhelming and we fully experience our powerlessness in the face of life’s challenges.
“Peace! Be still!” our Savior commands the storm and the waves. “Peace! Be still!” He whispers to our troubled hearts.
He promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20), whether the skies are clear or the waves are threatening. Through the promised presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16), Jesus Himself is with us in our tiny boats, ready to command the storm whether it rages around us or is unseen to others in our hearts and minds.
The troubles will come (John 16:33). It’s like the old cliche about the inevitability of death and taxes – we are all guaranteed to partake! And the manner in which our Lord calms the storms may not take the shape or form that we expect. (Isaiah 55:8)
But we have a Savior who is the Lord of the storms and the seas, both the real ones and the metaphorical ones. Next time you feel that the waves are overtaking you, turn to Jesus, who never left your fragile boat, and take comfort that He is Lord of your situation.