Hush! Be Still!

Mark 4:35 On that day, when evening came, He *said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.”36 After dismissing the crowd, they *took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.37 And a fierce gale of wind *developed, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling with water.38 And yet Jesus Himself 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?”39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

Are there storms in your life right now? Of course, there are if you live on this planet in the confines of our country America. Storms are coming our way on a regular basis, aren't they? I don't know what storm you are going through right now but our God is the only one who can make a difference in that storm. As Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat and the gale force winds began to toss that boat around, He just slept on. How could He sleep at a time like this? Because He is the one in control of the sea and the storm had to submit to Him. The disciples did not realize this was the case, but it didn't make a difference to what Jesus could do with this storm. In their fear of drowning, they woke Jesus and said “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” There was a word of doubt by those disciples and their fear was manifested in accusing Jesus of not caring. Are you in a tough time now and in your storm you are asking Jesus, "Do you care?"

The disciples had the one who controls everything, including the sea, in their boat and they are about to see just how much Jesus does care and how much in control He is. Jesus immediately got up and said three words "Hush, be still." The wind died down and it became perfectly calm. If you are doubting Jesus' care right now about your storm, let that doubt and fear in your life be replaced with faith in the one who is still in control. Jesus is a storm killer and He is perfectly willing to calm your storm. You don't have to doubt that He is not seeing what is going on because He sees it all and is intimately involved. That's just how my Jesus does things and you don't have to wake him up to calm your storm. He is right here right now and large and in charge. Call out to Him and see Him work!! How much time did Jesus take to calm the storm when He saw it? He responded and changed things immediately!!

The disciples were astonished about what happened and they said the following words in the following verses. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who, then, is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” When they saw the extent of the power of Jesus their attitude toward Jesus changed and they became amazed at the power that was shown before them. You can bet that the power they saw was something they learned to rely on in future storms and thus it strengthened them for the present and the future. Their belief in the power of God was amped up and Jesus made that happen with those three words.

When your storm takes shape, call out to Jesus and He will calm that storm and peace will reign. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church at Philippi in Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Do not fear the storms but call out to Jesus and He will calm that storm because He loves us with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to him long ago, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. Why would Jesus calm your storm? Because His love is perfect and everlasting!!

Trust Him today and ask Him to step into the middle of that storm and give you peace and then rely on Him from there on again and again because there will be storms.

The Pilgrimage Continues

David Warren