Caught in the Storm

"On the same day, when evening had come, 

He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

Now when they had left the multitude, 

they took Him along in the boat as He was.

And there were also with Him other little ships.

And a great windstorm arose, 

and the waves beat into the boat, 

so that it was already filling.  

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

And they awoke Him and said to Him, 

"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, 

and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"

And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  

But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? 

 How is it that you have no faith?"

And they feared exceedingly, 

and said to one another, 

"Who can this be, 

that even the wind and sea obey Him?"

Mark 4:35-41

I love this story.  I love how He wasn't worried at all, and they were freaking out, even though the Savior of the world was right there.   I love the illustration of His power, and the strength of His Word.

But you know what I realized recently?  This line right here:  "There were also with Him other little ships."  Verse 36.   There were other boats there in that storm!  Smaller boats!  And if the men in Jesus' boat were frightened, what must it have been like for those in the other boats?  How close were they to His boat?  Did they wonder why He wasn't doing something?  After all, they didn't know He was sleeping. 

Or did it even occur to Him that He could do something?  Did they just think they were doomed?  Maybe if they'd only see Him heal someone, maybe they wouldn't realize His power over the universe. 

Many years ago, I came to a place of knowing that if being in the midst of the storm was where Jesus was, then that's where I'd want to be.  Storms can be frightening when we're in them, but we should want to be wherever He leads us. 

But sometimes we're more "caught" in a storm, you know?  We feel like collateral damage when He's doing a work in the life of someone we love, even when the end result of that work is amazing and miraculous. 

I guess the trick is to just hold on.  The reason those little boats were out there was because they wanted to be near Him.  They wanted to hear Him.  So trust that being near Him is enough, and just hold on until the storm stops. 

After all, the wind and the sea weren't the only ones to whom He said, "Peace!"

~ "Peace I leave with you,

   My peace I give to you;

   not as the world gives do I give to you.

    Let not your heart be troubled,

        neither let it be afraid." ~

John 14:27

~