Peace in the Storm

Today, we took a boat across the Sea of Galilee. As we moved over those waters, it was easy to picture that unforgettable moment when Jesus calmed the storm on this very lake. The disciples had set out with calm skies and steady waters. Everything felt manageable until it didn’t. The wind rose, the waves crashed, and water began to fill the boat.

Storms still come like that. Unannounced. Unscheduled. One moment, life feels steady, and the next you’re facing winds you didn’t see coming: a medical report, a strained relationship, financial pressure, and anxiety that won’t quiet down. You didn’t plan it, and you didn’t cause it, but suddenly you’re in the middle of it.

Mark tells us something striking: while the storm raged, Jesus was in the boat, asleep on a cushion (Mark 4:38). Same boat. Same storm. Very different response. That tells us that peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ. When Jesus is in your boat, you can rest even when the waves are moving.

The disciples woke Him and cried, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” We’ve all prayed prayers like that: “God, do You see this?” “Lord, do You care?” Jesus stood, spoke to the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.” Immediately, there was calm (Mark 4:39).

Then Jesus asked a revealing question: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). He wasn’t scolding them; He was inviting them to grow. The storm exposed what still needed settling on the inside. Sometimes God allows an external storm to build deeper trust within us.

Here’s a truth to remember: a boat doesn’t sink because waves beat against it; it sinks when water gets inside. The pressure isn’t what defeats us, but what we allow inside does. Don’t let doubt and fear take over. Don’t let worry flood your heart. Keep the doors of faith closed to fear and open to trust.

So stay in faith. Keep trusting. The storm may be loud, but Jesus’ voice is stronger. The waves may rise, but they still recognize the voice of their Creator. And even before the storm passes, His presence is already giving your soul rest.