Storms wreak havoc. They tear down. They destroy. They displace. They create fear and trembling. Have you been in “harm’s way” of bad storm of some kind?
Apparently, rain storms in Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa have been causing havoc recently. The Weather Channel has been reporting about this, and we have talked with family members there who were experiencing it firsthand. It doesn’t sound good.
Recent rain storms also covered South Florida. The flooding damage was extensive. Rain storms in South Florida are so bad because the land is so flat and already saturated and surrounded by water.
We lived in Miami for a few years many years ago, and I remember one particular afternoon when I was driving home from a short distance, and it literally took me hours to slosh home. At least our home was high and dry, but we found out many others were not.
Storms wreak havoc. Hurricanes. Tornadoes. Even snow and ice storms.
There are several key mentions of storms in the Bible. The most important of these are the storms involving Jesus being in a boat with His disciples.
Just last month, many of our churches had the Gospel reading from St. Mark, Chapter 4, where Jesus was in the boat with His disciples, and He was sleeping near the back of the boat.
A havoc-wreaking storm broke out. The wind and the waves were tossing the boat about. The disciples were obviously terrified.
They woke Jesus up. Don’t you think it means something that He was still asleep in all that havoc? They woke Jesus up and fussed at Him, grilling Him, “Don’t you care that we’re all about to drown?”
To which Jesus said two things. Simply, “Peace. Be still.” And immediately the sea was as slick as glass, my words, not Holy Writ. Then Jesus asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
So, what was Jesus’ point through all this? I believe Jesus was revealing this beautiful truth.
The disciples weren’t just safe as soon as Jesus calmed the storm. They were actually safe even when the storm was raging. Why? Because Jesus was in their boat the whole time.
They didn’t need to see the storm’s end to be at peace. They could have been at peace even when the storm was raging. Why? Because Jesus was in their boat the whole time.
Jesus wanted His disciples to have faith in Him not just when the storm was calmed. He wanted His disciples to have faith in Him even when the storm was raging. Why? Because Jesus was in their boat the whole time.
In addition, Jesus wanted His disciples to know He had just as much power over the storm before He said, “Peace. Be still,” as He did after He said it. He wanted His disciples to have faith in Him even during the storm. Why? Because Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time.
Martin Luther liked the question, “What does this mean for us?”
First of all, because we live in a fallen world, we have many “storms” in our lives, many problems, bad circumstances, and broken relationships.
But as we go through these storms of life, Jesus wants us to know:
We are not just safe after the storm in our life is over. We are safe even when the storm in our life is raging. Why? Because Jesus is “in our boat,” in our lives, connected to us through His Holy Scripture, our Baptism, and in His Holy Communion, the whole time.
We don’t need to see our storm come to an end to be at peace. We can be at peace even when our storm is raging. Why? Because Jesus is “in our boat” with us the whole time!
Jesus wants us to have faith in Him not just when our storm ends. He wants us to have faith in Him even when our storm is raging. Why? Because Jesus is “in our boat” with us the whole time!
So, what’s the good news for us today as we encounter this Bible Story?
Jesus has just as much power over the storms in our lives before He says, “Peace. Be still,” as He does after He says it!
Jesus wants us to have faith in Him through our storms.
He instills this great faith in us. And His Holy Spirit seals it in us. His power and faithfulness create our faith, even when our storms of life are raging.
What does all this look like in our lives?
Think about your life right now. You have “storms,” health issues, loss of a loved one, uncertainty, even anxiety, broken relationships, heartaches about your children, loss of your job, financial problems, caring for aging parents, we have a divided country, and we have the ultimate storm facing us, death itself.
Through all these storms, and not just when they are over, through all these storms we have Jesus “in our boat” the whole time! His peace and power prevails. And even the wind and the waves obey Him. “Peace! Be still.” I pray all this for you in your storm right now or the next time a storm rises up and rages in your life.
And we can all say, “Amen!” to that.
[Dr. Kollmeyer, a thirty-eight year resident of Fayette County, is a retired Lutheran pastor. He offers his preaching and teaching pastoral ministry to any church or group seeking or needing a Christ centered, Biblically based, and traditionally grounded sermon or teaching. Reach him at justin.kollmeyer@gmail.com.]
