Mark 4:39-41 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
The Hebrew word in Psalm 46:10 is "râphâh" which means: to "relax," "be still," or "be quiet." And in Mark 4:39-41, the Greek word used is "phimoō" which means: "to make speechless, and to hold one's peace." In both cases, there is a command to be still or, in other words, "calm down." This seems odd because when faced with turmoil or storms, we tend to freak out or act out. Making it seemingly impossible to remain calm or silent.
So how are we to do this, and why are we to do this? Our answer is found in one 5-letter word; Jesus.
Jesus provided us the reason for the command in Psalm 46, written over 800 years before His life. He commanded the winds and waves to be still, and they ceased. We now have further confidence to obey His same command of us, to be still! No matter what we are walking through, we need not be afraid, for He is with us.
As we see in Mark 4, there are only two options for those in the boat. To either fear the storm or fear the Storm Calmer. The truth is, this is a decision we all must make. Our lives seem to be a sinking ship in the midst of a terrible and never ending storm, where the rain is so fierce we can barely breathe and the wind so strong, we can barely see. However, someone is in the boat with us who has the power to calm the storm of our lives. Although He has the power to do it, we must also trust His timing.
We will either fear the storm or the One who has the power to calm it.
Jesus humbled himself by becoming a man, living a servant life, performing miracles, and even calling peace to the winds. Later living out the greatest of them all, when He took the sins of this world on his shoulders, pinned on the cross, buried, and resurrected three days later. This beautiful understanding allows us to have peace in the power of Christ. He is our firm foundation.
"I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages" ― Charles H. Spurgeon
The storm you are in the midst of may not be calm until the day you meet heaven's gates and leave this world behind. But you can remain calm, be still, and have courage. The One who has the power to do it is with you. He's in the boat with you. The storm surrounding you can either pull you away from Him or teach you to embrace Him.
Do you fear His power enough to trust Him, or do you only fear the storm which is all around you?
I needed to hear this today. Jesus is my Rock, my Strength and my Rest.