Louise Gevers

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4: 37-39

From conception, life is a journey until we reach our final destination. Over time, we’re taken many places and are given a host of exhilarating experiences – some beautifully memorable, others nightmarish and forget-worthy. At times we’re carried; other times we trudge on foot. Life is beautiful and amazing when things are going well, but can be frightening and lonely when they don’t work out, and we face harsh challenges.

Isn’t today’s description of the disciples caught in a storm a mirror image of what so often happens to us? Many a time we find ourselves, figuratively, caught in a storm, and, like them, we discover that we don’t have the faith to weather it, even though we know that Jesus is with us in the boat! Isn’t it because we panic and forget to look to the Lord? We gaze horror-struck at the huge waves breaking over our boat while thunder roars and lightning flashes around us, instead of trustingly looking at him. This is the time to put our faith into action and pray; we don’t need to shrink back from the test. He is with us and He is able. When we ask Him, he calms our storms. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you … For I am the LORD, your God …” (Isaiah 43:2-3)

Standing on the waving deck at the airport recently, I sent a text to my daughter who had been out from America to do research and was now departing: “I’m above the second “T” in International.” She texted back: “I’ll look for you!” Minutes later another message arrived saying, “Window misted up so I can’t see out.” I texted, “Never mind, it may clear by the time you reach me, but at least you know I’m there.” She responded, “True”, placing a deep red heart alongside.

A deeper significance of what had been said made me shiver and tear as I realised that this had been an “Aha!” moment. It reminded me that this is what we experience so often in our relationship with God. He is always with us in the storms and in the circumstances that mist up the windows and block Him from our view, even though we can’t see Him. I didn’t move from that spot till her plane was out of sight.

How much more able and faithful is Almighty God than a loving mother? I was to find out.

Prayer: LORD, You alone are faithful and true, always able to save me. “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path.” (Psalm 27:10, 11)  Amen