Mark 4:35-41

Be Still: Lord, today you stand at the door and knock. I open the door so you may come in and eat with me. Reveal to me your power and presence.. Be my Lord and my Saviour.

Read: Mark 4:35-41

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ (v39-40)

Encounter:  What will it take for God to prove himself to us? He healed, performed signs and wonders, quieted the winds and waves and apparently, it still wasn’t enough for the disciples. Jesus asked them, “Do you still have no faith?” It’s notable following the readings this week that there is any separation between the the disciples and the crowd at all. As theologian William Lane put it, the difference between the crowds who only saw riddles and the disciples who lived with Jesus so near, “ is one of degree, not of kind”. 

We are people of constant rising and falling faith too. We see the amazing things Jesus does in one season but then in the next, a storm hits us we’re cowering in the corner thinking its all over. Just once Jesus longs for us to take heart when walls really fall down and say, “I’m not worried. God, you’ve got this.” The true sign of maturity is when the things that used to terrify us don’t bother us anymore. It’s the sign we are in line for spiritual promotion. Maybe the walls do fall down though. Even so, God has still got this. You know why? It’s because he’s got us. He is with us no matter what. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned.” (Isa. 43:2) He’s with us, and in the business of stilling storms.

Apply: Where has doubt crept in and we’ve started to fear the storm instead of fear the one who has power over the storms? Maybe we need to take stock of the places where we’re putting our faith. Am I trusting solely in Jesus or am I putting my faith in someone else or something else? Why not put all our trust in Jesus and his saving power? He’s got this. He always has and he always will. 

Devote: Jesus, forgive me when I’ve not trusted in you. Lord, I need your saving power and presence in my life once again. Protect me and to bring me through the storm. I look to you and I trust in you. Amen