By Katy Mariotti

The Calm in the Storm

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“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!””
Mark 4:37-41 New International Version

Even though I live in a landlocked state, I have always felt a pull towards the ocean. I love the beach: feeling the sand on my feet and looking for seashells. I love the water too, but it makes me feel just a little afraid. The waves are unpredictable, always coming at different strengths and heights. I don’t know enough about ocean currents and predatory creatures to really gauge how far I can swim out. And even though I’m fascinated by the ocean, I’ve heard enough horror stories recently of hurricanes and sinking ships to make me wary.

On a recent trip to the Gulf of Mexico, I was enjoying floating in the warm water, feeling perfectly safe, thinking about how God was protecting me. But I also had a view of a pier recently destroyed by a hurricane, and I thought, “Would I still feel protected in the middle of a storm?”

In the passage about Jesus calming the storm, the disciples were full of fear. But when they went to Jesus, He calmed the storm with just His words. His disciples were in awe and perhaps thought of scripture:

“You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.” Psalm 89:9 NIV

When we are in the middle of a storm, be it literal or figurative, we can feel out of control. It helps to remember that God stills the wind and waves, and we can trust His eternal presence in our lives.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado