Peace in the Storm

The water lapped the side of the boat as it launched out onto the waves. Overhead seagulls chirped vehemently. The weary men on board settled into a simple rhythm. One of them laid down to rest in back, pillowing his head on his cloak.

Halfway across the sea, the birds ceased their songs. The waves grew, spraying over the sides. The sail shook and turned violently as the wind picked up. One sailor leapt forward as the rope from the sail jerked, burning his hands.

In a matter of minutes, the sky blackened aside from the flashes of lightning. The boat rocked as waves splashed over the side, soaking their feet. The thunder rumbled so hard it shook the sailors to their very core. That’s when they saw him. There in the back of the boat was their master, sound asleep.

What could he be thinking? Leaving them all alone in this storm? Didn’t he care? Didn’t he realize they were about to die? The sailors rushed to their master’s side and shook his shoulders, crying, “Master, don’t you care that we’re going to die in this storm?”

Life often feels like this scene. One minute everything is peaceful and calm, and the next we’re trapped in a storm. Everything is falling apart—our world, our life, our dreams and plans. We feel crushed from every side, lost in the storm. You’ve felt it too, haven’t you?

God’s been teaching me a lot about these kinds of storms lately. They’re tasking and terrifying, but they’re not the end. Just because it’s dark, doesn’t mean the sun’s gone out. Nothing can blot out the sun, just like nothing can stop the love of God. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NKJV

It’s easy to get lost in the storms of life. The clouds are so heavy, the rain so sharp, and the waves so jostling. Who wouldn’t be frightened? But we aren’t truly lost. God’s been guiding us through all along. He hasn’t lost sight of us. We’ve lost sight of Him. The disciples were not forsaken that night on the sea. Jesus was right there with them. They just needed to trust. They needed to turn to Him.

When the disciples finally did turn to Jesus, there was instant peace. The storm cleared. The waves, rain, and thunder ceased, and all was serene. Maybe God won’t bring your life storm to a complete stop, but He still can give you peace—the kind of peace that allows you to rest, knowing that God’s going to take care of you. His peace passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Even though it’s often arduous, God uses the storms in our lives to grow our faith. In them we seek Him more and more. We hold fast to our Savior and trust Him to carry us through. Life may feel impossible, but we serve a God who makes all things possible. (Matthew 19:26)

How does the story end? Let’s take a look.

The master sat up and looked first at his followers and then the storm. He shook his head and called out in a loud voice saying, “Peace be still!”

As if hearing his voice, the waves stopped, the rain disappeared, and the clouds rolled back. All was calm. Then he turned to his followers with a sorrowful expression. “How is it that you doubt me after all you’ve seen? Have you no faith?”

The sailors trembled and sunk to their knees in the puddles below. “Who can this be that even the wind and the waves obey him?”

I’ll tell you who He is. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16) He is the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God. His hands are rough from carpentry, but they work in the most gentle and loving way. It may be stormy today, but God is ready to give you peace.

All is Grace, Esther Noe

The story in today’s post was adapted from Mark 4:35-41.