Devotional Reading for today from Portals of Prayer
Associated Scripture Readings:
Mark 4:35-41
Psalm 69:1-18Be Still, My SoulTeacher, do You not care that we are perishing? Mark 4:38
The disciples probably didn’t want to cross the lake this late in the evening. They knew well that the dangers of a sudden storm would be magnified in the darkness. But Jesus had asked them to cross over, and so they did. Now such great wind and waves beat against the boat that they feared they were going down. And what was Jesus doing all this time? Sleeping inside the stern!
Perhaps there are times when you feel like the disciples did. While following God’s Word, you find yourself swamped with problems and troubles. You feel like you’re going under. And all the while it seems as if Jesus doesn’t help, as if He doesn’t even care.
What we and the disciples sometimes forget is that Jesus is in the boat with us. The only way that the ship can go down is if He goes down too. And that’s not going to happen. He is Lord of the wind and the waves. He who created them now commands them to be quiet and still. In the same way, Jesus speaks His words of mercy and peace to us, and the anxieties of our souls are stilled. Even in the midst of the storm, the baptized are safe with Him in the ark of the Church, and He will surely captain us to the heavenly destiny of our voyage.
Lord Jesus, turn my fears to faith in You. In Your name I ask it. Amen.