Quiet! Be Still!

 “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” ~ Mark 4:41

I was reading in Mark recently and came across the story of Jesus calming the storm. (Mark 4:35-41) You know the story. Jesus was asleep in the stern of a boat after a long day of preaching and healing. A storm hits. The disciples, though seasoned fishermen, fight for their lives as the boat rocked and reared in the wind and the waves. Sure that death was imminent, they woke Jesus, and he spoke two small words. Instantly, the sky cleared and the waves calmed.

It says the disciples were 'terrified' when Jesus spoke 'Be still'.

Think about that. Why were they terrified? Wouldn’t ecstatic be a better response? Why doesn’t it say they were relieved? No. They were terrified. Only then did it occur to me that this happened early on in Jesus' ministry. The disciples were still just beginning to understand who Jesus really is/was.

They knew he was a healer. He healed lepers and blind men. They knew he was a teacher. He taught with authority and power. But though they may have suspected He was God, this was finally proof!

God spoke and creation obeyed; they were appropriately terrified. I think their understanding of Jesus radically changed that day, and though the storm was scary, their faith was bolstered.

Are you in the midst of a storm? Is it dark and scary? Are you wildly rowing those oars? Stop a minute and think. You are not alone. Jesus is on the boat! Let Him speak peace in the midst of this squall, and forever remember, He is God!

May our faith grow to the heights of His powers - Limitless!