This morning I walked on the beach.  The ocean was as still as a lake and the walk was incredibly peaceful.  That was a contrast to last night as I walked my dogs.  A storm rolled in when we were a ways from home the rain and thunder picked up quickly and a nice walk turned to a jog and then quickly to a run.  My oldest dog, Stella is terrified of thunder.  She usually likes to stroll leisurely on the evening walk but not when a storm rolls in.  She quickly switches to greyhound mode and pulls to get home.  One time it started raining and storming so badly that we looked for cover instead of trying to make it home.  Stella couldn’t go to her normal “hiding spot” that she has in the house so she got as close to me as she could.  She would have loved for me to pick her up and hold her but she is about 90 lbs so she settled for hiding between my legs.  She was still afraid but she felt a little bit better knowing I was with her.  The storms of life can be frightening and we all look for security when they arrive.  Let’s look at how the disciples responded when a storm came their way in Mark 4.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The disciples knew that Jesus was the person to turn to when the storms of life hit.  They just didn’t have the faith that he would keep them safe through the storms.  One guarantee we can all count on is that we will face storms in life.  Jesus may not immediately calm the storm like he did for the disciples (and I failed miserably to do so for Stella), but He will be there with us every step of the way.  The next time you face one of life’s storms, thank Jesus for weathering the storm with you.  I think you will find comfort knowing that the One who can calm the storm is there right beside you.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave