Monday
And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. – Mark 4:36-37 ESV
The God Who Calms Your Storms
The Perfect Storm - Back in October of 1991, a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The storm was officially known as “The Halloween nor’easter of 1991.” It has become known as “THE PERFECT STORM” - inspiring the book and movie with the same title. It is called “The Perfect Storm” because it was 3 storms combined into one. In the case of “The Perfect Storm”, when these 3 elements combined, it regenerated a hurricane creating an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean.
In Mark 4:36-37 we see a perfect storm and perfect crisis for a perfect faith lesson. A crisis is a critical moment in time when something very important for the future happens or is decided. This storm was an important moment for the future of the disciples. Daniel Akin writes that "God orchestrates an event in the lives of the disciples to increase their faith in the One they should already trust. Why? Because He is God and ‘with God, nothing will be impossible.’”
Reflection
We should not be surprised by surprises in our lives. They are divinely ordained moments whereby God is working in the everyday circumstances of our lives to reveal who He is, who we are, and who we need! When was the last storm you faced and how can you see God was at work?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for being trustworthy in the middle of the storms of your life. Thank Him for bringing you safe thus far. Ask God to grow your faith in your storms.
The God Who Calms Your Storms
The Perfect Storm - Back in October of 1991, a storm stronger than any in recorded history hit the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The storm was officially known as “The Halloween nor’easter of 1991.” It has become known as “THE PERFECT STORM” - inspiring the book and movie with the same title. It is called “The Perfect Storm” because it was 3 storms combined into one. In the case of “The Perfect Storm”, when these 3 elements combined, it regenerated a hurricane creating an almost apocalyptic situation in the Atlantic Ocean.
In Mark 4:36-37 we see a perfect storm and perfect crisis for a perfect faith lesson. A crisis is a critical moment in time when something very important for the future happens or is decided. This storm was an important moment for the future of the disciples. Daniel Akin writes that "God orchestrates an event in the lives of the disciples to increase their faith in the One they should already trust. Why? Because He is God and ‘with God, nothing will be impossible.’”
Reflection
We should not be surprised by surprises in our lives. They are divinely ordained moments whereby God is working in the everyday circumstances of our lives to reveal who He is, who we are, and who we need! When was the last storm you faced and how can you see God was at work?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for being trustworthy in the middle of the storms of your life. Thank Him for bringing you safe thus far. Ask God to grow your faith in your storms.
Tuesday
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” – Mark 4:35 ESV
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Remember the Promise of God
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs. "I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one. "Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!" Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head. Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?" "It’s not," replied the brother. "That would cost me a dollar."
God keeps His promises. In Mark 4:35, Jesus had promised they were going to the other side of the lake. He didn’t say, “To the middle of the lake to be drowned! He didn’t promise an easy trip, but He did guarantee arrival at their destination.
Reflection
How can you connect Jesus’ promise to get the disciples to the other side of the lake to His promise to return and take you to heaven?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the promises you have seen fulfilled in Scripture and your life. Ask God to remind you of the promises you need as you face storms in life.
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Remember the Promise of God
Two brothers were getting ready to boil some eggs. "I’ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head," said the older one. "Promise?" asked the younger. "Promise!" Gleefully, the older boy broke two eggs over his brother’s head. Standing stiff for fear the gooey mess would get all over him, the little boy asked, "When is the third egg coming?" "It’s not," replied the brother. "That would cost me a dollar."
God keeps His promises. In Mark 4:35, Jesus had promised they were going to the other side of the lake. He didn’t say, “To the middle of the lake to be drowned! He didn’t promise an easy trip, but He did guarantee arrival at their destination.
Reflection
How can you connect Jesus’ promise to get the disciples to the other side of the lake to His promise to return and take you to heaven?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the promises you have seen fulfilled in Scripture and your life. Ask God to remind you of the promises you need as you face storms in life.
Wednesday
But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” – Mark 4:38 ESV
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Recognize the Presence of God
When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile. (Our Daily Bread)
In Mark 4, Jesus was in the same boat and the same storm as the disciples. Jesus was asleep on the cushion during the severe storm because He was extremely tired. The disciples wake Him and ask if He even cares that they are dying. Their cry, as given in Mark, implies a feeling of resentment at Jesus’ apparent indifference to their peril....It was a cry of distrust, but one often matched by believers today in difficult circumstances when they feel that the Lord has forsaken them. But Jesus had not forsaken them and He had not lost control.
Reflection
Have you ever been in a trial or "storm" and felt like Jesus was "asleep?" Don’t confuse God’s silence with a lack of compassion because He cares deeply for you.
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the promise and invitation of 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” Cast your cares on Him today in prayer.
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Recognize the Presence of God
When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile. (Our Daily Bread)
In Mark 4, Jesus was in the same boat and the same storm as the disciples. Jesus was asleep on the cushion during the severe storm because He was extremely tired. The disciples wake Him and ask if He even cares that they are dying. Their cry, as given in Mark, implies a feeling of resentment at Jesus’ apparent indifference to their peril....It was a cry of distrust, but one often matched by believers today in difficult circumstances when they feel that the Lord has forsaken them. But Jesus had not forsaken them and He had not lost control.
Reflection
Have you ever been in a trial or "storm" and felt like Jesus was "asleep?" Don’t confuse God’s silence with a lack of compassion because He cares deeply for you.
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the promise and invitation of 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.” Cast your cares on Him today in prayer.
Thursday
And he awoke 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 ESV
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Realize the Power of God
In his book The Perfect Storm, author Sebastian Junger reports astonishing facts about the power of a hurricane: “A mature hurricane is by far the most powerful event on earth; the combined nuclear arsenals of the United States and the former Soviet Union don’t contain enough energy to keep a hurricane going for one day. A typical hurricane . . . could provide all the electric power needed by the United States for three or four years.” (Our Daily Bread)
In Mark 4:39, the Creator commands the Creation to cease roaring. Amid the howling storm, all Jesus has to do is say “Be quiet”. Commentator Jensen writes, “Two miracles are involved in Mark 4:39: the wind died down and the sea was stilled, both of them suddenly, at the same time. Normally, a troubled sea calms down gradually, a long time after the winds have ceased.” Jesus has the power to calm any storm no matter how big and strong.
Reflection
What’s the biggest physical storm you have been through? What’s the biggest spiritual storm you have been through? How did you see God’s power in those storms?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for His unmatched power in the universe. Ask God to calm any storms you or your friends are going through currently.
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Realize the Power of God
In his book The Perfect Storm, author Sebastian Junger reports astonishing facts about the power of a hurricane: “A mature hurricane is by far the most powerful event on earth; the combined nuclear arsenals of the United States and the former Soviet Union don’t contain enough energy to keep a hurricane going for one day. A typical hurricane . . . could provide all the electric power needed by the United States for three or four years.” (Our Daily Bread)
In Mark 4:39, the Creator commands the Creation to cease roaring. Amid the howling storm, all Jesus has to do is say “Be quiet”. Commentator Jensen writes, “Two miracles are involved in Mark 4:39: the wind died down and the sea was stilled, both of them suddenly, at the same time. Normally, a troubled sea calms down gradually, a long time after the winds have ceased.” Jesus has the power to calm any storm no matter how big and strong.
Reflection
What’s the biggest physical storm you have been through? What’s the biggest spiritual storm you have been through? How did you see God’s power in those storms?
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for His unmatched power in the universe. Ask God to calm any storms you or your friends are going through currently.
Friday
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” – Mark 4:40-41 ESV
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Receive the Peace of God
Danny Akin writes, “There is a famous brand that reminds me of the reaction of the 12. It is a brand of tuna fish called ‘Chicken of the Sea.’ The ‘storm’ is now in the boat! It is one thing to be terrified by a storm on the sea. It is another thing to be terrified by God in your boat!"
As Brian Bell says, here we have "The Lord High Admiral of the sea, right next to the Chicken of the sea!" So here we see the greater storm was not on the seas but in the souls of the disciples! In calming the Sea of Galilee, Jesus taught the disciples not only about His power over nature but also about external and internal peace. The lesson about external peace was the easier of the two; He stopped the storm. Dealing with the storm inside the disciples was more difficult; fear had replaced the disciples' faith. Trust and tranquility are twins in the spiritual life. Perfect peace comes from complete trust (lsa 26:3). —D. J. De Haan
Reflection
Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place and survivor of the German concentration camps, said that people often came up to her and said, “Corrie, my, what a great faith you have.” She would smile and respond, “No, it’s what a great God I have.” Our faith in trials should point people toward our great God.
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for being a great God who has power of the sea and gives you peace in the storm. Confess your fears to God.
The God Who Calms Your Storms: Receive the Peace of God
Danny Akin writes, “There is a famous brand that reminds me of the reaction of the 12. It is a brand of tuna fish called ‘Chicken of the Sea.’ The ‘storm’ is now in the boat! It is one thing to be terrified by a storm on the sea. It is another thing to be terrified by God in your boat!"
As Brian Bell says, here we have "The Lord High Admiral of the sea, right next to the Chicken of the sea!" So here we see the greater storm was not on the seas but in the souls of the disciples! In calming the Sea of Galilee, Jesus taught the disciples not only about His power over nature but also about external and internal peace. The lesson about external peace was the easier of the two; He stopped the storm. Dealing with the storm inside the disciples was more difficult; fear had replaced the disciples' faith. Trust and tranquility are twins in the spiritual life. Perfect peace comes from complete trust (lsa 26:3). —D. J. De Haan
Reflection
Corrie Ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place and survivor of the German concentration camps, said that people often came up to her and said, “Corrie, my, what a great faith you have.” She would smile and respond, “No, it’s what a great God I have.” Our faith in trials should point people toward our great God.
Praise/Prayer
Praise God for being a great God who has power of the sea and gives you peace in the storm. Confess your fears to God.
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