"Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm."
Mark 4:39
The evening was set for our church meetings, which were entitled Back to the Altar. We planned to teach the seven principles of discipleship at the Santa Maria SDA Church in Brazil. Excitement filled the air—until dark clouds gathered ominously overhead.
Pastor Luis, watching the shifting sky, spoke with concern. “We have reason to worry now. If this storm comes, many of our members won’t make it. Most rely on public transport.”
A deep urgency stirred in my heart. “Pastor, let us ask God to stop the storm.” I spoke with conviction, but, inside, I wondered—would He really do it?
At that moment, God reminded me of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4:37-39 (NIV). The Bible says, “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.”
Wow!!! Just like that? Inspired, I prayed with all my heart, asking God to quiet the brewing tempest, which threatened to disrupt not only our gathering but the spiritual growth of those eager to hear His Word.
Yet, as I prayed, I realized another storm raged within me. Anxiety gripped my soul—I felt unprepared for the evening’s message. I had a sense of unworthiness to stand before God’s people.
But at that very moment, I heard a gentle voice asking me, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” I confessed my unbelief and prayed, “Lord, you promised to keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on You. Help me focus on You, not on my inadequacies and unpreparedness.”
With renewed faith, we continued preparing. To our amazement, just an hour later, the skies cleared completely. When we arrived at church, people had already gathered, ready to receive God’s word.
That night, we spoke about honoring Jesus as Lord—Lord even over any storm, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. The message resonated deeply, and afterward, a member invited me to share the message at her workplace the next day. There, too, hearts were touched, and many were blessed.
Call to Action
I don’t know what challenges you are faced with, but I do know this—at some point, we all face a season that feels overwhelming, like we’re being tossed around in a relentless storm with no end in sight.
Not all storms come with thunder and rain. Some are internal battles—mental, emotional, or spiritual struggles that shake us to our core. Maybe you’re carrying the weight of work pressures, strained relationships, or family conflicts. Perhaps it’s your health, your strength, or your peace of mind that feels under attack.
The disciples once found themselves in a storm so fierce that they feared for their lives. But in the middle of the chaos, Jesus stepped in. He calmed the wind, stilled the waves, and rescued them from fear.
The same Jesus who calmed that storm is here for you. He sees your struggles, knows your fears, and wants to bring peace to the raging seas in your life. But there’s one question He asked the disciples that He also asks us: “Where is your faith?”
In the face of uncertainty, will you trust Him? Will you let go of fear and hold onto faith? No matter how strong the storm, remember—He is stronger.
Hold on. Help is near.
Unless noted otherwise, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations (noted as NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
