Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Key verses: (37-41) 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Reflection: Fear is something we all experience, so we can put ourselves into this passage. We can understand what the disciples were feeling. The anxiety seeping into the core of their being as water came crashing over the sides of the boat.  It is not hard to get to a place of deep fear.  What is hard to understand is the question Jesus asked the disciples. “Why are you afraid?” Are you kidding me?

The disciples find themselves caught up in a storm on Lake Galilee. The waves begin pounding the boat and they are terrified. As experienced fisherman, they knew this sea. They may have faced terrible squalls before today that appeared without warning.  Their fear is real and Jesus is asleep.

As followers of Jesus, there are times when we have to speak out of obedience and love.  We must find the courage to stand by Jesus, trust in his presence even in the midst of our fear.  Jesus is Lord of our lives. Our faith should be a witness to others that in the midst of storms and great fear, there is a peace that only Christ can offer to us.

Prayer: God, give me courage to stop in the midst of any storm I face today with trust and confidence.  Give me a deep abiding peace. I promise to be receptive to that peace.  Amen.

Author: Michelle Thomas-Bush

[Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved].