Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself and the storm will pass.
One thing is true about life, storms will come, and storms will go. They are not predictable as to when they will arrive, but you can rest assure they will come. When Jesus went to the back of the boat to sleep, he had to sense the humidity building up, and the wind beginning to jostle the boat as the dark clouds soared in the sky. The storm was coming, yet he knew that no matter how strong the storm, the presence of His father would allow peace to reign. Maybe the disciples were absent during that class, and I skipped it along with them. What we see around us has a way of playing mind tricks; the present state of the world, our financial bank statement, bills pilling up, the pressures from our jobs, relationships etc. We hit the snooze button praying for just ten more minutes. Sound familiar?
His disciples failed to recognize who was in the boat as they became frantic receiving the squalls of rain and wind like a wave breaking on the surf. In comparison we wake up just as anxious ready to receive the squalls of life; jumping into to the shower, putting on our work clothes, grabbing the burnt toast and finally darting into the eye of the storm. One thing we have in common with the disciples is that when we face a storm, we forget who is in the boat with us all along! The answer is in front of us; it’s important to slow down and spend time with Jesus. Start doing this early in the morning presenting the day before Him. Just like He spend time with His heavenly father it is important for us to spend time in the presence of the Lord and receive the strength and companionship He has to offer. Perhaps the extra time spent sleeping and shutting off the alarm takes away the preparation for what the day will bring.
Jesus alone has the answers to those things that make you feel stressed and anxious. He has the ability to quiet the storm. You will find yourself in a much more peaceful state when you make him the first priority of the day.
According to Mark 4:37-41, we find the peace maker in the middle of a storm,
“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Can we be just like the disciples to doubt in the middle of a crisis and fail to recognize who is beside us? Could it be that the squalls of life that come our way are receiving all our attention? It’s time we remember who is in our boat and who can quiet our storms. Whatever you are experiencing today take the time this minute to admit specifically what is ailing you. Take inventory of what you are about to face today and cast in the master’s hand. Allow yourself to slowly let it go and visualize it falling into Jesus’s hands as the winds and rain die down.
Dive deeper:
- What are you currently facing that you feel the waves pounding mercilessly?
- Why did Jesus rebuke his disciples?
- Why is embracing the peace that Jesus brings in handling the storms we face so important?