Silencing the Storms

A couple of years ago I read a book called, Godforsaken Seas. It is an account of what was considered the most dangerous sailing race. The gripping story tells of racers who single-handedly sailed around the world through terrifying storms and circumstances. Their tenacity and determination was truly inspiring. They fought through fear by persevering and by relying on years of training. They never gave up.

I feel like we are sailing through some unpredictable storms right now. There’s no navigational system to tell us how to cruise through these unchartered waters and that can feel unsafe. I have tremendous respect for the ocean. To be honest, I am not a fan of deep waters, even though I can swim just fine. It’s hard to trust what you cannot see. 

 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?”

Mark 4:37-40

I often wonder how Jesus slept through the storm that unhinged his disciples, fisherman who were accustomed to life on the water. I suppose the Prince of Peace knew there was nothing to fear. There are moments when I feel like the disciples, a bit unnerved in “a furious squall.” But, I am reminded that all I have to do is call on Jesus, just like the disciples did.

And then the storm was silenced.