06/17/2022
We read the account of Jesus calming the sea and marvel at His power, and command over it, but if we read this passage carefully we see that He gave two commands here. The first was a single word… “Peace!”, and the second was “Be still!” Although these are commands that scripture says He spoke to calm the sea, we should hear, and obey them in our own lives too… not to calm various situations we find ourselves in, although this would be appropriate, but to bring peace to our souls, and still our spirits. The first to bring us calm, and the second as we feel the presence of God. Do we hear Him in this way in the midst of the storms we encounter?
“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.”
Mark 4:39 ESV
The interesting part of this story isn’t that Jesus calmed the storm, no, it is what he said to the disciples when they woke him. Do we recall the words He spoke, as told in Matthew? Listen…
“And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.”
Matthew 8:25-26 ESV
He asked them why they were afraid, and chastised them for having little faith. Had their faith been full they would have been at peace, and they would not have been afraid. So, having corrected them, Jesus turns His attention to the sea and calms it. But this isn’t enough to rid the disciples of fear. At this moment their fear turns away from the sea, and focuses on Jesus himself. The sea is at peace, but they are yet to still their own fear. Listen as we read from the Gospel of Mark…
“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 4:41 ESV
Have we ever been afraid and asked Jesus to intercede for us, and God to defend us, or solve a situation in our life, and then, once He had moved on our behalf, found that we were still afraid? Were we afraid because of how He answered us, His incredible power, or maybe because we thought that His solution might not be permanent?
I can relate to the later form of fear. I was diagnosed with cancer, and was healed. It was a miracle, but there were those around me who cast doubt on that, giving the credit for my healing to my doctor, but I knew, and those who prayed me through this time knew, that God had healed me. Yet, as convinced as I was of the miracle, I was told that the form of cancer I had was known to spread very rapidly, and so whenever I felt an odd pain, or went for a follow-up appointment, there was a nagging fear that just maybe the cancer that God had cured me of had returned. God had calmed the sea of cancer in me, but like the disciples in the boat with Jesus, my spirit wasn’t completely still; it took a while before I was able to face my doubt and fear, and become perfectly still. It took meditating on who God was, and being told over and over again in scripture to be still, before my spirit was able to listen without distraction, without fear, for the small still voice of God.
When we finally read the commands that Jesus spoke to calm the sea, and hear them spoken in the same breath with “Oh you of little faith”, our fear will subside, and we will have peace again; we will become still. Only then will the commands given us in one of my favorite verses become real to us…
““Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!””
Psalm 46:10 ESV
I have this verse on a plaque that hangs on my bedroom closet door. I read it every morning as I dress to go out into the world, and I read it again as I undress each night while preparing for bed. When we can become still in this way we will truly come to know God, the Great I Am… we will hear His voice, and the fear that once plagued us will be no more. Even the heavenly beings know to become still, not just the angels, but the winged creatures too. Read in Ezekiel as they still themselves by folding their wings to hear the voice of God.
“And there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads. When they stood still, they let down their wings.”
Ezekiel 1:25 ESV
Jesus calmed the raging sea so that the boat would not sink, but He also taught us a lesson in faith… being at peace, and being still as we come to know God. Are we carrying around a form of fear today that we need help with? Do we need our faith strengthened, our doubt removed, and to know God in wonderful new ways? If so then it is time to contemplate these two command of Jesus… these powerful three words… “Peace! Be still!”
Prayer:
Father thank you for rescuing us from the trouble that we find ourselves in as we sail the seas of our lives, but thank you most of all for giving us peace, and helping us to still our spirits so that we can know you. Thank you for your Son Jesus who spoke to the sea to calm it, and for the revelation that He Spoke these same words to each of us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who reveals yourself to us in our quiet times when we are still, and listening carefully for your voice. Praised be your name for every echo of the words “Peace! Be still!” that we hear coming to us from your Holy Mountain. Help us Father to shed the smallest remnant of fear or doubt we find distracting us in our faith. You are merciful to rescue us from danger and trouble, but it is by your amazing grace that our fear and doubt are overcome. We are weak, and you are strong, so we place our shortcomings in your hands, and humble ourselves before you; trusting in you alone, and striving always to remain still before you. Wash away the sin from us with the blood of Jesus, and still our spirits with the help of your Holy Spirit. Find us worthy on our day of judgement, and seat us at your table. Feed us with your Word, our manna, and still us as you speak of who you are, and who you desire us to become. Calm us at this moment Father, by allowing Jesus to speak, and say, “Peace! Be still!”
“And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
Isaiah 32:17-18 ESV
Rich Forbes