"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Mark 4:39
Here is a from our trip: a boat in the Sea of Galilee like the one our group was in yesterday morning. At one point the captain turned off the motor and we had complete silence. One of group read the story about Jesus and the disciples being caught in a storm and the disciples fearing for their lives. Jesus rebuked the storm with the single word, "Peace," and calm was restored.
As we sat in the quiet of this beautiful and very warm(!) morning, we reflected on the fact that sitting perhaps right where we were on the water, Jesus rebuked a storm so that we can know peace today. We can't prevent storms. They roll in with force and destruction, just as Hurricane Ian has in south Florida. When we are in the midst of such storms we pray for a results similar to the disciples-"Jesus make everything calm!"
But the power of this story is found in what happens before Jesus' rebukes the wind and waves. He slept! While the disciples fretted, Jesus snored. He was calm. That is what he came to give us, a peace that gets us through a storm, not just a peace that comes after storms abate. Not only that, the disciples experience this miracle as a result of obedience. They were willing to obey Jesus and get in the boat. They are following His instruction. Had they played it safe, they would have never experienced this miracle. And they would need it again! They would face a lot more storms ahead, but they would never face another storm without the confidence of a Savior who meets us in them.
So let me offer this prayer for our storms and those in Florida facing heavy burdens from what they have weathered...
Lord, thank you for meeting us in our storms. You offer us peace that gets us through, and when we are faithful to follow You, you help us through adversity. Help those in Florida who have been devastated this week, especially those hardest hit, not just by the storm's fury but life's fury where for lack of insurance or assistance they may face losing all. May we and others called to be disciples of You, step up to help us as we can and be your instruments that calm storms and restore hope. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Rob