Panic vs. Peace
I had never noticed until today that verse 23 notes the danger of this storm was real. There goes any preconceived notions that the disciples were overreacting. They were fishermen. They lived on boats. They were not likely to be anxious about every little storm. But this one was significant and the danger was real.
Yet Jesus sleeps.
Even in the face of real danger, Jesus is taking a nap. He is the personification of "peace that passes all understanding." It doesn't make sense that He would be asleep ... not from an emotional perspective, or even from a physical one. Who can sleep on a boat in the middle of this kind of storm? Jesus can. Because He is in absolute control 100% of the time. At no point was the situation ever bigger than Him. Notice how quickly He calmed things down once He was awakened. When we are connected to Christ we are never truly at risk, and there is great peace in that.
One final note. We must remember, like the old song by Scott Krippayne says, He won't always stop our storms:
All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we're shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet, peaceful place
Created about 1 year ago
