Jan 27: Weekly Reading- Jesus Calms the Storm; The Fearful & Insight Post by Kim Feld
Weekly Reading: Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25
Monday Reflection
Jesus Has Authority Over Nature: In calming the storm, Jesus reveals His divine power and authority over nature, showing that even the wind and waves obey Him. This story reminds us that Jesus is in control of every aspect of our lives, even in the midst of chaos.
Monday Verse
For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (NLT)
Monday Questions
In what areas of my life do I need to trust Jesus’ authority, even when things feel out of control? How can I surrender my worries and anxieties to Him, knowing that He holds power over every circumstance I face?
Monday Insight Post
by Kim Feld
The first thing that caught my attention in the story of Jesus calming the storm was that He was sound asleep while the storm raged around Him. All three accounts from Matthew, Mark, and Luke say that water was actually beginning to fill the boat. The disciples had every reason to believe that they were going down! Yet, when the power of Jesus’ words calmed the storm, He challenged them on their lack of faith.
I am not a great sleeper, so Jesus sleeping in the midst of this chaos is amazing to me. I often find myself tossing and turning, either ruminating about something from the past or worrying and stressing over something that may or may not happen in the future. I am a doer by nature, so on some level, this constant processing makes me feel like I’m “doing” something, especially when it involves situations that I have little to zero control over. But the reality is that I am often robbed of the present, including rest, by fixating on the past or future.
Faith can require us to be still and leave it up to God, or it can call us to action. As I ponder this, I wonder if control is at the heart; do I believe that I am in control, or do I trust Jesus? When I’m flying, I would never take control of the plane; I have confidence in the pilot to get me where I am going. Even when the flight is turbulent, I still believe the pilot knows more about how to handle the situation than I do. Yet, I often buy into the illusion that I can be in control of situations in my life, even though I know my next breath is dependent on God, and He knows so much more than I do.
Jesus demonstrated His authority over nature by calming the storm, but I think He also showed them that He is Lord over the storms that rage within us, too. Worry doesn’t buy us anything. Jesus said, “Can your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NLT). When the storms come, He wants me to rely on Him rather than taking matters into my own hands. I must ask myself, “Do I have confidence in Him or not?”
I haven’t mastered this yet, but in an effort to be more mindful, I try to practice leaving my worries in Jesus’ capable hands while I sleep. I review the things on my mind with Him and ask Him to keep them for me while I rest. If I awaken at night and feel drawn into worry, I go through the same exercise. I know in my head that He doesn’t sleep and is always watching, but making this a tangible practice has been helpful. It’s my own way of saying with the father who brought his son to Jesus for healing, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (See Mark 9:14-29).
Jesus doesn’t remove all the storms from our lives. But if He doesn’t calm the storm, He will pour His strength and peace into us so we can withstand it. Most importantly, He will be there with us. We don’t have to fight the storm alone.
Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach