“The disciples woke Jesus and said to him, “teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves “quiet, be still!”  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”

Mark 4:38-39

Have you ever been in a a storm (real or metaphorical) that was so chaotic and scary that you weren’t sure if you’d make it?
How often in those storms have we called out, just like the disciples – “Jesus – don’t you care?  I’m drowning over here!”
I’ve noticed that in my own life, I can work myself into a frenzy about a storm pretty quickly.  I can make it seem a lot worse than it is, and I can look at it from all the wrong angles until I’m a mess, only focusing on the bad, not seeing any good, and most of all, not seeing any hope for myself anywhere.

It is this verse that reminds me that God can and does calm the storms in my life – but it’s also a reminder to trust God even in the middle of them.
Jesus looks to his disciples after calming the storm and asks them why they didn’t have faith in him?  Jesus wanted the trust of his disciples, he wanted them to remember that he would keep them safe.
After all, even in the storm, Jesus didn’t leave the boat.
He was there the whole time, calm, taking a nap even, secure in the knowledge that he was taken care of.

Loving God,
inspire by your Holy Spirit those who are afraid of losing hope.  Give us a fresh vision of your love, that we may find again what we fear we have lost.  Grant us powerful deliverance, through the one who calms the sea and makes all things new – Jesus Christ our Lord – AMEN.