Storms Happen
Mark 4:35-41
"'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."
(MATTHEW 8:26)
Wind, water, and waves keep showing up in the Gospels. The Sea of Galilee, a place where all three are found, is the perfect place for a sudden storm. Westerly winds can change quickly to the east. This body of water and its unique characteristics offer analogies to life. Just as gentle breezes can kick up and clouds turn into a furious squall on the Sea of Galilee, storms rush in on our lives. It is all too easy to join the voices of the disciples, saying, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
Most of us have asked the question, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" found in Psalm 22, the "Psalm of the Cross." It may seem like God has withdrawn and left us alone. But the truth is, we are never alone; He never leaves His children. During one of those storms on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was sleeping until the disciples awakened Him, crying out for help. The Creator of this earth ordered the winds to die down and then reminded His followers, as well as you and me, that they need never be afraid.
INSIGHT
THANK YOU, LORD, FOR FAITH THAT HELPS US OVERCOME FEAR AND REMINDS US THAT YOU, OUR SAVIOR, ARE ALWAYS NEAR.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Deuteronomy 3-4
Psalm 81
Acts 2
Mark 4:35-41
New Living Translation (NLT)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
LEARNING TO LINGER [PART 5]
with Scotty Smith
Prayer is something every human does at one time or another - even when we don't have a clue who we're talking to or what to say. But it's not really prayer when you speak to an unknown god.
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