That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.
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?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
—Mark 4:35-41
Storms are curious events. We all know about the ravages of stormy weather.
Personal storms can also wreak havoc by taking us far out of our comfort zones. At times, they can change our lives forever. Neither kind of storm brings us calm. But storms can teach us perseverance and endurance — definitely necessary life skills. Storms can increase our faith as well.
The disciples did the human thing; they panicked, as many of us do when we first experience a storm. They didn't realize the teacher they followed was Jesus. He is always with us teaching us to have faith in Him as He has faith in us.
Jesus is the minister of good judgment and knows what's best for us. He is never the author of any storm. Jesus can choose to heal us, but he doesn't always do so.
I have found that in the most trying times of my life, my best spiritual growth is produced. In times when I need support, Jesus always comes through in the clutch. This only proves that I don't have to wait to be physically healed to be happy. A positive attitude, gratitude, and the support of friends create an added healing.
Remember Jesus' words: "Quiet. Be Still." Together with faith, these produce calm, and free us from feeling overwhelmed.
