Luther Seminary

A daily devotion brought to you by the alumni of Luther Seminary

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Mark 4:35-41 (NRSV)

Read Mark 4:35-41 on biblegateway.com

Verse 35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." Verse 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. Verse 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. Verse 38But 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?" Verse 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Verse 40He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" Verse 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Devotion

I imagine those first disciples who set sail with Jesus expected nothing less than smooth sailing. Isn’t that what we’d like as well?

When Jesus enters the boat with us, we’d like to think it will be smooth sailing all the way, surely not rough waters! But all too often that’s not the case. We all know there are bound to be troubled waters from time to time. Most likely we’ll get caught up in life’s stormy seas now and again.

Having Jesus in the boat with us doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t have to face our share of storms. Having Jesus in the boat with us simply means we won’t be alone when those storms come our way. Jesus will be right there in the boat with us calming the troubled seas of our lives with the power of his word!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we know there will be the inevitable troubled waters, but we also know you have promised to stay the course with us. Give us courage and strength to face the challenges of the stormy seas of our lives, and when we feel overwhelmed or overpowered by life’s storms, reassure us of your promise to remain with us always. Amen.

Laurie A. Jones Ballard First Lutheran Church, Seattle

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