February 20: Peace! Be Still!

Mark 4:35-45

 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

We focused on this passage at our Living Compass small group the other day.  The conversation that sprung forth was wonderful----Truth being expressed from human experience related to God’s Word.  

During the midst of a storm (metaphorical or historical, it matters not)--Jesus tells his frightened followers: Peace!  Be Still!  In other words---hold your tongue.  Silence yourselves.

In my prayer life, I have found an equivalent to this.  When I am in the midst of anxiety, doubt, fear, I try to remember to pray: Lord, let thy will be done.  The prayer of Mary.  The prayer of submission.  The prayer that places all things in God’s hands, right where our lives belong.

And when I do this, I am kept from telling God what it is I think God should do and I leave it in His hands.  This prayer silences me.....allowing God to speak the Truth that is needed in whatever situation I have found myself in.  

Peace!  Be Still!  God is in our boat.