I've been reading about Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been healing and preaching so he stretched out for a snooze as they began sailing across a body of water with a reputation for quickly rising and powerful storms. That is what happened on this night. The disciples, some of them experienced fishermen from the area, were well aware of the potential for disaster, and they were not only frightened but further distressed by Jesus calmly sleeping on as the little boat pitched and rolled. Here is what Mark 4* says happened next:
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!”
I have to laugh. This is so me. I say, "Help! Help me! Hey, God, don't you see I'm in trouble here? Can I get a little help please." (To be fair too often my panic prayers sound more like this: "Hey God, please lead me to 7th and Vine by 2 PM next Tuesday and a taxi would be good. But I digress.) No doubt that when I am focused on my fears, perceived or real, I'm UPSET!
So God does something. And am I all saying: "Wow, God! Thank you, God! You are Mighty and Wonderful and...."? Well, no, I'm more like, "Wow, that isn't exactly what I meant. I mean, can I get a do over? This has aspects I did NOT anticipate and really don't want to entertain!" OR I'm like, "Whoa! That is too big an answer! That was WAY too fast. Where are we going here, God?" I SO get the disciples. When I'm still all big-eyed and breathing heavy in the aftermath of big answered prayers, I want to say, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"
But then how amazing it is to have conversations with and a relationship with the God who even the wind and the waves obey. Because THAT, that Jesus, THAT is my God, my Savior, my Lord.
WOW!
*Mark 4: 35-41
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!”
I have to laugh. This is so me. I say, "Help! Help me! Hey, God, don't you see I'm in trouble here? Can I get a little help please." (To be fair too often my panic prayers sound more like this: "Hey God, please lead me to 7th and Vine by 2 PM next Tuesday and a taxi would be good. But I digress.) No doubt that when I am focused on my fears, perceived or real, I'm UPSET!
So God does something. And am I all saying: "Wow, God! Thank you, God! You are Mighty and Wonderful and...."? Well, no, I'm more like, "Wow, that isn't exactly what I meant. I mean, can I get a do over? This has aspects I did NOT anticipate and really don't want to entertain!" OR I'm like, "Whoa! That is too big an answer! That was WAY too fast. Where are we going here, God?" I SO get the disciples. When I'm still all big-eyed and breathing heavy in the aftermath of big answered prayers, I want to say, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"
But then how amazing it is to have conversations with and a relationship with the God who even the wind and the waves obey. Because THAT, that Jesus, THAT is my God, my Savior, my Lord.
WOW!
*Mark 4: 35-41
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