“Now sit right back and I’ll tell a tale, a tale of a fateful trip. It started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny
ship. The mate was mighty sailing man, the skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour. The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed, if not for the
courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost!” Each week that’s how one
of my favorite shows as a kid started. It was Gilligan’s Island and it told how a small boat was carrying
passengers and got caught up in a terrible storm and they were shipwrecked on a desert island…for three
complete seasons! I hate to say it but every time I read in the Bible the account of Jesus and his disciples
crossing the Sea of Galilee as it was getting dark, and a huge storm caused waves to break over the boat and it
was filling with water…that song runs through my head! The disciples are panic stricken and Jesus…well, he
was calmly sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said… “Teacher, don’t you care that we are
going to drown?” Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to stop…and to be quiet. And he asked
them why they were afraid…didn’t they have faith in him? And after what they saw him do, they actually
became more afraid than ever…and they asked “Who is this guy sitting right here with us?” I don’t believe that
Jesus just fell asleep that evening on their three hour tour. He was teaching them a powerful lesson. First, they
were in terrible danger. And with Jesus right there. They watched as water filled their boat and the storm raged
around them. And in fear, they finally woke up Jesus and asked like so many of us have in times of need “Don’t
you care about what is happening to us?” But as soon as they asked, Jesus commanded the power forces of
nature…first to be silent…and then second to be still. And they had no choice but to obey the creator. So, what
was the lesson here? Jesus asked them why they were so afraid…do you still have no faith? They came to
Jesus out of fear…when they could no longer control the situation around them…and everything was falling
apart…they cried out to Jesus. And that’s ok…but that’s desperation, not faith. We don’t have to live in fear in
our lives…before the storm even begins, we are invited to come to the one who loves us the most and ask him
for help before the dread and panic rule our lives. He can handle the storms, so when the first few drops of rain
begin, go to him then and cut out the pain and fear and bring your needs and your desires to the one who can do
what is impossible for you and impossible for anyone else to do. Talk to God, tell God…he is waiting to hear
from you!
Here’s our Bible verse for today….
Mark 4:37-41 BSB Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. (38) But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” (39) Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. (40) “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” (41) Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Remember I’m praying for you!
PJ
Here’s our Bible verse for today….
Mark 4:37-41 BSB Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. (38) But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” (39) Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. (40) “Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?” (41) Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Remember I’m praying for you!
PJ