Running With Mark 25
Day Twenty-Five – January 22, 2020
Read: Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Stills a Storm
What is the biggest storm you have ever been in?
dark stormy sea with a dramatic cloudy sky
I love a good storm. Some people are quick to take shelter (as they should), but I am the one that is often watching the wind and rain and lightning. We have an 11 year old basset hound named TY who is terrified of storms. This poor dog shakes, and paces, and drools. We’ve tried everything to help calm him. We bought him one of those Thundershirts, which he wore quite proudly, but it didn’t help his fear. We have tried turning on loud music to drown out the storm, but that didn’t work. We tried a “calming” essential oil, to no effect. We talked to our vet who finally prescribed some medication for him which we are to give him “30 minutes before a noise event”. So then we have a stoned basset hound who is still frightened but doesn’t care quite as much. (Check out this video of my sweet old guy when he was still recovering from dental work. Slightly Stoned Basset Hound)
Just picture in your mind the droopy eyes of a basset hound who has been sedated. It breaks my heart to see him so frightened. The only thing that really helps him, is to pull him up on your lap and to hold him very, very tight. Sometimes I’ll pull him up on the bed, pull him right next to me, and fold my body over his.
Jesus and the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee. It is surrounded by mountains. It is not uncommon for storms to kick up quickly with wind blowing from the mountains. But several of these guys were fishermen. Hadn’t they been through storms before?
The guys are panicking. Meanwhile, Jesus is fast asleep in the boat. They wake him and say, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves and the storm disappears. He says to them, “Have you still no faith?”
- What are the current storms in your life? Are you having trouble at work? Struggling in a relationship? Are you ill or living with disease or chronic pain?
God is with you,
God is with you in the boat,
God is with you in the boat, even while the storm rages on.
God is with you in the boat, even while the storm rages, and says “Peace be still”.
Peace to the wind and the waves.
Peace to the storms in your life.
Peace when our hearts are frightened.
Music:
Praise You in the Storm by Casting Crowns
Prayer Focus:
Storms in your life, storms in the world
Grace and peace,
Pastor Karen Bruins
