“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was great calm.” Mark 4:39
I’m not a huge fan of thunderstorms. Or let’s just say I have respect for them. Enough respect to not want to be trapped outside in one and certainly not on a boat. That’s where the disciples and Jesus found themselves on this particular night. Jesus had been teaching all day and when evening came He said let’s go to the other side. There were several boats on the water going to the other side when the storm arose. Jesus was sleeping in the stern, even in the midst of the waves crashing into the boat. The disciples were frightened. Now I’ve always pictured that when Jesus woke up He calmly said “Peace be still” and everything got quiet. But there is a word here that says it was a little stronger than that. He rebuked the storm.
Now when you rebuke someone you are usually using a little more force. Some strong words may be spoken, with authority and firmness. It doesn’t mean you have to raise your voice or be mean, but the other party will know that you mean business. When my grandchildren do something wrong, my son and daughter in law get on their level and they are firm with them. They want them to know that Momma and Daddy mean business.
Jesus woke up and he rebuked this storm. He didn’t just wave His hands. He spoke with authority. He was firm. I read that the same terminology is used when Jesus rebuked and silenced demons. Wow! That also suggests that this storm may have been a spiritual battle as much as a weather crisis. But you know what else that suggests to me and I hope to you? If Jesus was addressing this storm as a spiritual battle, He can address any spiritual battle going on in me and you too.
What storms of life have you battered and you feel like the waves are crashing in? Night time is my worst time to succumb to the spiritual battles in my heart and mind. Things that I wish were different will creep into my nighttime thoughts and dreams until I am just like those disciples in the boats feeling like I am just shoveling water. When what I need to do is call on Jesus and pray for Him to quiet the storm in my heart and my mind, just like He quieted that storm on the sea. I need to rebuke the storms that make me anxious and turn them over to Him. I would like to tell you that I have mastered this but I can’t. I had another sleepless night last night where I simply could not shut my mind off. But this morning I am asking Jesus to come in, and quiet these storms and say Peace be still in my heart and mind as I go through this day. If you have felt that yourself, please join me and let’s take on His peace for this day rather than turmoil!
Restore 