Calm Waters

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Luke 8:22–25
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Calm Waters
When Christ calmed the storm, He also changed the faith of His disciples, which was shaken along with the ship, into confidence. He no longer permitted their faith to be in doubt. He worked a calm in them, smoothing the waves of their weak faith. When the fear of death unexpectedly comes upon us, it can shake even the strongest of us. But it does not have to be a life-threatening event. We are also affected by many other troubles that are too great to bear. And it is into these storms that Christ comes to calm us. But He does not just calm the storm. After calming the storm, Jesus challenges His disciples and us, to consider the answer to their question, “Who then is this?” Though we can easily answer this question correctly while sitting safe and sound in our homes, it is a different matter altogether when facing trouble. Yet, when we are similarly overwhelmed, the risen Christ comes to our aid. As we pray, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”