Peace! Be Still.

There is a saying that says, “Don’t rock the boat.”  According to the dictionary of idioms and phrases, it means: “keep things as they are, stay calm, don’t cause a disturbance, don’t make anyone upset.”  It comes from the idea that when a boat is on the water during a storm, the force of the wind and waves cause the boat to rock back and forth; the stronger the wind and waves, the more the boat will be rocked and tossed about.   Mark 4:35-41 tells us about a time when Jesus and His disciples took a boat across the Sea of Galilee and a fierce storm blew in.  Jesus had fallen asleep in the back of the boat when the storm hit. The disciples were panicked, since the waves were threatening to swamp the boat. The fact that the disciples were frightened tells us something about the nature of this storm; at least four of the disciples were experienced fishermen; they knew what to do in a storm.  They were used to the lake and had seen and survived its storms before. They knew how strong of a storm their boats could endure; but their survival was threatened with this one, and it sent them into a panic.   So, in desperation, they woke Jesus and said, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  “We’re about to go under here, Jesus. Don’t you care? Don’t just lay there! Get up! Do something! Help us!” Jesus didn’t answer the disciples directly. Instead, He got up, rebuked the wind and spoke three words: “Peace, be still” and the wind immediately died down, and things became completely calm. 

            If you are going to be in a storm, the one Person you want your boat is Jesus.  Jesus will calm your storm- at just the right time and in the right way.  When our world seems to be coming unglued, and our boat is being rocked, our ears are not always tuned to hear the words, “Peace! Be still; I am in your boat; trust Me, I am in control.”   Perhaps though, that is where the problem lies for most of us.  We become fearful when the storms of life howl and the waves threaten us because we think WE may need to save ourselves. We think WE may have to fix the problem on our own.  So we keep one hand on steering the rudder of our boat, “just in case.”  Just in case- what?  Just in case Jesus can’t be trusted?  Just in case Jesus won’t come through for us?  When the storms of life rock our boat, Jesus IS present and He IS in control and it is then that we need to be faith-filled and not fear-filled.  He knows exactly what to do at exactly the right time.  God exercises His power over the storms of life-both internal and external.  Don’t worry, God has you in mind; He knows and understands you and your situation; and He knows which storm to calm- the storm around us, or the storm within us, and He knows the right time in which to do it.    We don’t really understand who Jesus is or the power He has until we see Him in action; until He comes and meets us in our storm.   If you place your faith and trust in Jesus in your times of storm, in those times when life rocks your boat, you will have a greater understanding of Him, a deeper relationship with Him, and a new love for Him when your storm calms down.   When the storms of life threaten us we have Someone to call on. We have Someone who will carry us through it. We have Someone Who is in the boat with us. And that Someone is Jesus Christ.  Jesus asks us to hear His words, “Peace!  Be still.”  God calls us to turn our eyes FROM the storm TO the Savior.   Don’t tell God how big your storm is; tell the storm how big your GOD is!   

(Taken from the sermon- September 8, 2013 Facing Your Fears- When Life Rocks Your Boat Mark 4:35-41 by Clark Williman.  Resources for the message-

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Matthew 8-15 and Luke 6-10 by Dr. John MacArthur;  Sermon Central Messages by Rodney Buchanan, Tim Byrd, Robert Rust)