Calm

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35-41


Some days the calm comes easy, other days it seems as if one storm after another clouds up our lives and blow anxiety and trouble everywhere. When health problems arise or relationships get stormy or broken, if feels as if there will never be calm again. Sometimes it feels like we won't make it through the day or through this crisis. We humans can be bent over by crisis and storms, lost and wondering when peace will come.

The disciples had been watching the storm mount and grew anxious by the moment. Jesus slept through it all. These were water men, fearless and skilled in all sorts of conditions. For them to be scared meant that it was a real doozey. These skilled professionals were undone. They knew from experience that they were facing their doom. By waking Jesus and asking for help, they found themselves in a situation transformed, surrounded by peace when there was only tossing and fear. We are invited to name our storms and ask God for the help we need. We try, as best we can to be calm, but we need help when the big storm clouds swirl.

Today I ask God to help me be quick to ask for help and slow to be independent ans self-assured. We all need to do what we can, but offering our skills we may still find ourselves in rough seas. May we all be quick to ask and pray, trusting that the one who calmed the storm will come to our aid today.