Stop Bailing Water: The 3 Words That Calmed the Storm (and Can Calm Yours)

   

 "Imagine you're on a road trip, and suddenly, the weather turns. What started as a gentle drizzle escalates into a torrential downpour. Visibility plummets, the wind howls, and you're gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white. Your kids who were once talking, playing and at times fighting, are now quite. You've driven in rain before, but this feels different, overwhelming. That feeling of being tossed about, of being at the mercy of forces beyond your control? That’s a taste of what the disciples experienced on the Sea of Galilee one day. It’s also a feeling many of us know well, when life’s unexpected storms hit, and we find ourselves wondering if we’ll make it through. We’re all familiar with the feeling of fear and anxiety when life throws us a curve ball."

"Let's dive into Mark 4:35-41.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 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?”- 

(Mark 4:35-41)

     Jesus, weary from a long day of teaching, decides to cross the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. Mid-journey, a 'great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling' up (Mark 4:37). The disciples, seasoned sailors by the way, were terrified. When the professionals get worried that is when you know things are not good. They woke Jesus up with a frantic urgency, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' (Mark 4:38). Kind of a funny question considering who they were talking to, but an honest one at the time. Jesus, in his infinite calm, rebuked the wind and the sea, saying, 'Peace! Be still!' And immediately, 'there was a great calm' (Mark 4:39). Pretty awesome story!  

    The humor lies in the disciples' frantic efforts versus Jesus's effortless solution. They were bailing water, fighting the waves, and generally losing their minds, while the answer to their problem was sleeping peacefully a few feet away. Even when they woke Jesus up, they shared what they were actually feeling and thinking. "Do you even care about us?" Are you even aware of what is happening right now!" How often do we do the same? We grapple with our anxieties, trying to control every aspect of our lives, forgetting that Jesus is in the boat with us.

    As the writer Anne Lamott says, "You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." We often try to project our limited abilities onto God, instead of trusting in his unlimited power.   

    This story also serves as a sobering reminder. Like the disciples, we often turn to God as a last resort. We try to fix our problems on our own, using our limited resources and understanding. It's only when we're at our wit's end that we finally cry out to him. But God desires to be our first response, not our last resort. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.'   

Here are some ways to apply the lessons of this story to your life:

1. Practice Prayer as Your First Response: Instead of immediately trying to solve every problem on your own, take a moment to pray. Even a simple, 'Jesus, I need your help,' can shift your perspective from your problems to the Problem Solver. Don't just bring your problems, but make sure you are bringing your emotions as well. We all get scared, anxious, jealous, and angry. Make it a habit to bring your emotions what ever they maybe to God before you take any action.
2. Cultivate a Habit of Recognizing God's Presence: Remember that Jesus is always in the boat with you, even when you don't feel his presence. Take time each day to acknowledge his presence and thank him for his faithfulness. This can be done through journaling, meditation on scripture, or simply pausing to reflect on God's goodness.
3. Learn to Trust in God's Timing: The disciples were afraid because they felt they were going to perish in the storm. But Jesus had a plan, and his timing was perfect. Trust that God's timing is also perfect for your life, even when things seem chaotic. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."
4. Share Your Burdens with Others: Just as the disciples woke Jesus, we can also seek support from our Christian community. Share your worries and anxieties with trusted friends or family members who can pray with you and offer encouragement. Galatians 6:2 instructs us to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

    "The storms of life will come, whether they're literal thunderstorms or metaphorical challenges. But we don't have to face them alone. Jesus is in the boat with us, ready to bring peace to our storms. Let's learn to trust him, to bring our worries to him first, and to rest in the assurance of his presence. Remember, he can speak three words, 'Peace! Be still!' and calm the chaos in our lives. Let us have the faith to let him do just that."