One emotion that is running rampant these days is FEAR. I am not going to recite all the reasons we might be feeling fear because that would only increase your fears and they are high enough already.
In addition to everything that is happening in our world right now relative to the pandemic, economic turmoil, politics, and social unrest we have two other enemies against whom we must do battle. One is our external enemy of the devil and demonic powers trying to destroy our lives and the other is an internal enemy called our flesh or sinful nature.
Now I don’t know about you but this battle with FEAR reminds me of a time when the disciples were filled with fear while in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. It was after a day of listening to Jesus teach the parable of the sower and the parable of the mustard seed and He told them that in that tiny seed comes a large tree in the garden. And our faith, even just a tiny bit can produce significant results.
So, they leave that area to sail across to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and at nighttime, a “furious squall” came up with waves so high they were spilling into the boat and it was nearly swamped. Perhaps you have never been in a furious squall before, but I have. Fortunately, we were in a 30-foot Alberg sailboat with an iron ballast in the keel of 3,300 pounds which tends to keep the boat upright. Even so, when the wind is blowing hard and the waves have white caps on them one does not feel safe in a squall…especially a furious squall.
However, I doubt this boat with 13 men in it had much of a ballast and there was a rather dangerous amount of water inside the boat that should have been outside the boat and not all passengers were fishermen. Matthew was probably vomiting over the rail and others thinking of joining him. After all, misery loves company and these men passed miserable long ago and were now in panic mode. They literally thought they all were going to die…except one.
They felt the power of the wind on their faces. The boat was rising up on one wave and crashing down before the next one hit. And I guarantee you there was only one cushioned seat in the back and their butts were sore slamming down on the wooden benches. And life preservers…we don’t need no stinking life preservers they thought when first getting in the boat.
Finally, in the middle of their group panic attack, someone notices Jesus is with them sleeping on a cushion on the stern. The stern is the backmost part of the boat. Was Jesus sleeping or was He peeking out of His eyes with the lids slightly open, watching the chaos unfold? Sleeping through a squall would be like sleeping in the plane when you are in severe turbulence. However, I digress.
Seeing Him sleeping on the cushion they all react with the words;
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
About the only thing they got right in that question is the word Teacher. Don’t you care??? Well, of course, He cares. He has chosen these men to take over after He leaves them, and that plan would require them not drowning. But they did not know that. He cared and the plan never was for any one of them to drown.
The point of it all was to help their mustard seed faith begin to grow into something more because they would need much more faith for the mission He had for them. So, the text tells us that He stands up and says;
“Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
Then He said to them;
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Then we are told that they were terrified and asked each other “Who is this guy that even the wind and waves obey Him.
See, this blew their minds. Ok, healing sick people were some pretty impressive demonstrations of His healing power. But this showed power in a whole new way. He speaks and the furious wind of a furious squall immediately stops, and the waves completely stop, and the water is as smooth as glass. And for some reason, we are told that their reaction was to be terrified.
I wish Jesus would have said; “Guys you don’t need to worry if you see I am not worrying. And oh, by the way…I never worry.”
So, today, as we hear more news about the furious squalls around our world and even in our own homes can we just stop and remind ourselves that Jesus is not asleep nor is He afraid. He is in control. His power is UNLIMITED. And He tells us in Psalm 46:10;
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.’”
So, we all can watch the drama unfold around us, and no matter how frightening it is Jesus is saying to your heart today.
“Quiet! Be still!”
Remember our Father and our Lord are in control and He has us in this mess to be His servants and give help and hope to others.
I invite you to join me today doing this…
WATCH LESS NEWS…DO MORE WORSHIP!!!
It is an amazing antidote to the pandemic of fear we see and hear around us.