February 22                                                                                                  Mark 4: 35-41

 

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”  And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.  And other boats were with him.  And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”  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.  He said to them, “Why are you afraid?  Have you no faith?”  And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”  (Mark 4:  35-41, Revised Standard Version)

How often do we look to someone else to solve our problems, get us out of a sticky situation or pull us through a storm?  When the going gets rough, we look to our family, our friends, and our community for help.  And these fishermen did the same.  These were men who were accustomed to being on the water.  They had surely weathered other storms on the water.  Why were they afraid?  By their response to Jesus’ actions, they were not expecting him to calm the storm.  So what did they expect him to do?  And Jesus asks them, “Why are you afraid?  Have you no faith?”  And I believe his question about faith may have two parts to it.  Firstly, “Have you no faith in God?”  That he will bring you through the storm safely.  And secondly, “Have you no faith in yourselves?” That God has given you the ability to find your way through the storm.  Not only do we need to remind ourselves to believe that God will lead us, but also to remember that we are children of God and as such we are blessed with many gifts and talents to find our way through difficult times.  It is when we use our own God given gifts to do God’s work that we honor and praise Him.  Have faith in God and yourself! 

 

~ Heidi Byrne