After a day of teaching at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to His disciples in Mark 4, “Let us go across to the other side.”They took Him in the boat, and He promptly fell asleep at the stern, though a great windstorm whipped waves that began to fill the boat. The panicked men awoke Him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” and Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea,“Peace, be still.” All was calm. “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Jesus can lead us into storms, and even orchestrate them to develop our faith (Ps 107:25-32). Jesus knows the destination, and He uses the journey that we might arrive richer than when we depart (Hebrews 12:1-2). We will arrive safely; He is in control. When we fixate on the crash of circumstances and seeping flood of fear and ‘what ifs,’ we panic—but we can choose to gaze instead at Jesus, the One the winds and sea obey, asleep on the cushion, and have peace in the midst.
Where in my boat am I allowing the rising water of difficulty or concern over the unknown to distract my eyes from the One Who is near, and assures me of a safe arrival and good end? O Lord, may I rest with You, choosing Your peace in my turbulent heart.
As the rain and snow 