09 04 08 A Ship Without a Sail

“They left the crowd behind. And they took him along in a boat, just as he was. There were also other boats with him. A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink. Jesus was in the back, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up. They said, ‘Teacher! Don't you care if we drown?’ He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He 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? Don't you have any faith at all yet?’ They were terrified. They asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” (Mark4:36-41 NIrV)

Trouble can just happen. It is rarely planned or calculated. Deaths, illnesses, natural disasters, may be somewhat expected, but when they occur the reality is still shocking and traumatic. It was this way in the Sea of Galilee for the disciples. They knew the suddenness of a windstorm from tropical air forces meeting the colder air from the nearby hills. Great turbulence would stir up swarming waves and fishing was no longer a job, but a life challenge!
Though the disciples took Jesus along with them, they did not feel His presence. Their faith was not quite in what they could do because of Jesus, but what He could do for them. They felt they were in A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL. They needed Jesus to take control! His simple words: “Peace, be still” (NKJV) calmed the seas, but the disciples were yet terrified. Why? They were slowly coming to realize this was no mere prophet, but it was God. Only God could control nature! They were in the presence of God!

“Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems.
And he brought them out of their troubles.
He made the storm as quiet as a whisper.
The waves of the ocean calmed down.
The people were glad when the ocean became calm.
Then he guided them to the harbor they were looking for.” (Psalm 107:28-30 NIrV)

Here in Psalm 107, the psalmist describes the faith the fisherman has knowing it is God who controls the seas and God who controls their future as well. God brings us through storms and guides us to a safe place, even if just within our spirit. As trouble may be blowing up all around us, His Spirit calms the inner soul of His children as they trust in Him. Yes, God can calm the storm, but He can also calm the child!

At times, we as believers refuse to use the power within us; that same Spirit that raised the dead and healed the sick can calm us in the middle of the worst challenges. It can bring peace to all chaos. It can bring safe harbor to a frightened heart. It can dry tears of loneliness and repair broken families. But we must bring Him with us where we go. We have to realize he is nor sleeping, but keeping a watch over us as we go about life. He’s waiting for us to call His name and use His authority to say “Peace, be still” and trust He will work it out. There is no need to be terrified when we know He is with us and we know He is God. We are not A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL. We know who our Captain is.

The question for each of us is this: How long will we be tossed about the seas until we give him control of the ship?