Strong Winds and Rough Seas

When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, got into a boat, and started across the lake to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the lake and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land towards which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.’ John 6:16-27

I have spent a good deal of my life near the ocean and have often experienced strong winds and rough seas. My Dad had small boats, all second hand and rickety at best. I have experienced my share of rough times on a small boat. I have baled and pumped water and prayed we would get back to shore. My father was well trained and experienced, just as the disciples were. Wind and weather do not care, and the most experienced know when to be afraid. Many of us are facing rough seas and strong winds in other ways and it can feel as if we are sure to perish. Yet Jesus comes to us, calms our fears and brings us to safe harbor again. No matter where we are in our journey, no matter how overwhelmed we are and are sure we are going to drown, Jesus is with us in our storms.

Gracious Creator, you give us wind and water

so birds might fly and fish might swim at home

you give us skills and strength to sail and fly

and we might see the glory and beauty of creation.

The storms of life and swift changes overwhelm us

and all the human advances fall away when fear rises

even the strongest among us can be weak and broken

and the most faithful tremble and fear abandonment.

Free us today from all the fears we hold so close

let us see you coming close in our terrifying storms

give us new strength and new faith for the journey

and make us your disciples who carry your love. Amen.