Today, I'd like to read a Scripture that I think has so many meanings, and you've heard this Scripture many times. It's found in Mark 4:35-41: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 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!”
Aren't there moments in life when we feel overwhelmed to the point where we say, "Savior, we are simply going to drown"? We've gone through the last 18 months with COVID; there have been so many times of despair. Our question often is, "Is this squall going to capsize our boat?" But the hope and the faith that we have is in Jesus, knowing that He's ready to stand and say: "Quiet, be still." That is the hope that we need to know that whatever storms come our way, Jesus is with us and He will stand up and say, "Quiet." And He didn't end just there! He said, "Be still."
He brought peace to everyone in that boat, and to all those other boats that were following. There were many frightened individuals in those boats, too. Where was the faith of the disciples that they knew this Jesus was the Son of God, but yet they still questioned? And it took moments like this for them to be reassured that they were with the Son of God.
So when you see those clouds on the horizon and you're feeling discouraged, or you are frightened for what is to come, or a sudden squall comes up in your life, remember to turn to Jesus — have the faith to know that Jesus is right beside you. All of us need Jesus in our lives so that He can stand and He can say, "Quiet, be still," because Jesus is what gives you hope. He is what gives us the faith to know that we have a God eternal who loves us, cares for us, and will always and constantly be beside each of us.
Let's remember Mark 4:35-41 — this is an example of having God in the center of your life and always a part of everything that you do, knowing that He can stand at any moment in your life and say, "Quiet, be still." And this today, I hope, brings you hope and the faith that you need to always keep Jesus close and keep Jesus beside you in all that you do.