By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton
Focal Passage: Mark 4:35-41
Eight years ago my wife was pregnant with our first son. In the days leading up to his birth our house seemed like a swirling mass of chaos. Nurseries had to be painted. Cribs had to be assembled. The house had to be babyproofed. Then, the day arrived. We rushed to the hospital. Anxious relatives assembled. My wife screamed in pain.
It was during this time that she coined a phrase to describe me. A friend would ask “What’s Josh doing?” “Oh, he’s in the corner spreading the calm,” she would reply.
It wasn’t exactly a term of endearment. Like most soon to be fathers, I was completely lost as to what my role was during the whole ordeal. Obviously, I couldn’t participate in the birth of our child so I settled into having a quiet monotone voice, continually repeating the phrase “It’s all going to be ok.” It was more of a reminder for me than a help for her.
I think that’s something we all need to be reminded of from time to time. We all encounter trials and tribulations. We all experience insurmountable problems. But because we serve a mighty God, no matter what we face, it will all be okay. That’s a lesson Jesus’ disciples learned on a stormy night as they crossed the sea of Galilee.
The first lesson they were taught was that Jesus provides calm before the storm (Mark 4:35-36). It’s been well said that you are either going into a storm, coming out of a storm, or living in the midst of a storm. It’s true.
Our lives are fraught with one moment of peril and then on to the next. We cherish those few moments of peace that exist between the problems, but it’s during these seasons of prosperity that we neglect our Lord the most. For some reason when everything is okay we decide we don’t really need Him. But understand that He is the one that gives calm before the storm.
Also, understand that He will provide calm during the storm (vv. 37-38). Almost as soon as the voyage got underway, a life threatening situation arose. The tiny boat began to be tossed around by a great windstorm. Waves crashed over the bow. The vessel was about to be inundated. The disciples were terrified — Jesus was asleep.
During trying times we are prone to respond like the disciples. Doubt wriggles it’s way into our hearts. We feel abandoned so we cry out, “Lord, where are you in the midst of all of this?!”
Jesus is always in the same place. He’s in the corner spreading the calm waiting on you to come to Him, to trust Him, to put your faith in Him.
And when we do that, Jesus provides calm after the storm (vv. 4:39-41). Notice, Jesus always responds to the cries of His followers. He calmly rebukes the wind, the waves, and the disciples saying, “Peace! Be still!” And so it was.
We will have moments of terror and panic in this life. Let it be known that no matter what season of life you may be in, Jesus is the God who rules the wind and the waves and He will bring His full power to bear on your life in order to produce in you a peace that passes all understanding. Stay calm. It’s all going to be ok.
