On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let us cross to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat,
so that it was already filling up.
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him,
“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up,
rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified?
Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mk 4:35-41)
Fear does terrible things to people. It makes people significantly narrow their field of vision. It also causes people to withdraw into themselves.
Many times, out of fear, people quit looking for help or asking for help. They begin to believe that they can only rely upon themselves; however, they are too immobilized to be able to do anything.
The answer is right in our midst: Jesus.
The disciples were in a boat and being overwhelmed because of the stormy seas. Jesus, in their midst, was asleep. The storm gave Him no concern.
The disciples were terrified and went to Him in a panic.
He chastised their faith as He calmed the seas.
Fear and panic do us no good. They only increase the chance that something will go wrong.
To be able to look at chaos with a peaceful mind is a great gift and one that the Lord can give to each and every one of us if we but ask.
FAITH ACTION: Is your personal life and/or your faith life causing you to fear? Ask God to calm the storms in your life and give you His peace.