MORNING GLORY 03

Good Morning Glory! Happy Wednesday. This morning I want to share these verses from Mark 4. The subtitle in my Bible calls the passage, “Jesus Calms the Storm.”

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” -Mark 4:35-41 NLT

Some Bible versions say “Peace, be still.” Those words sink deep for me. I don’t know where you are today — what you bring to the table — but I think we can all grab onto these words in some way. These days I’m way out at sea navigating post-grad life and I’m not an expert sailor when it comes to transitions. My rookie pontoon boat driving skills are way easier sometimes! But here’s what has made the sails of my heart catch wind in times of transition from these verses:

1. I am not the captain of this ship. I do not calm the waters – that’s in Jesus’ hands. And he doesn’t calm the waters at my command, but at his command.
2. Even though I might not be able to see far into the distance, I can trust God’s voice that leads through high and low tide. No depth of water can separate me from Him.
3. Jesus meets me on the water. He cleanses me and carries me across the sea when I struggle to stay afloat. I don’t have to tread and grow weary because Jesus walks on water!
4. The winds and the sea obey Jesus and so will I. He is the captain of my soul, leading me home no matter where I wander. Sometimes obedience looks different than my own plans, but that doesn’t mean I can only obey when the waves go my way.
5. When I begin to doubt the route, fear so easily tries to steer. But when I let out my ship’s sails to the Lord, He speaks peace to the roaring sea beneath and inside me. He breathes life and direction to my wandering. He goes before me to make a way.
6. My anchor of hope rests securely in the One who keeps me safe and provides through and through. His purpose prevails through the winds and sails.

Just as Jesus calmed the storm when he and his disciples were at sea, he still calms storms in our lives today. No matter what storms are brewing, Jesus himself is the peace for our sea. Circumstances, transitions, and all types of weather aside, our peace rests securely in him.

A few days ago I learned something profound about transition. If you’re in a transitional season too, listen in… I learned that the challenge of transition is being able to handle what you have now and trusting what you cannot see. It’s trusting God when we cannot trace Him or make Him fit into the outline we create in our minds. Transitions take us outside of the lines we often make ourselves and place us to fully surrender in Jesus’ hands. It brings to light our deepest darkest needs and fears that only Christ can put at peace. I’m an artist so coloring inside the lines is almost second nature. So of course, transition throws me outside the lines and even more outside my comfort zone. But I’m already seeing growth here in my sea of transition. Since each transition does not last not forever, I don’t want to miss God at work in these days. Even the longest waits or biggest waves have purpose for His Kingdom.

So take heart you who are in your own transition sea. You are not alone! Share your sunhat and weather the wind with a friend. God puts people in our paths to navigate this journey with Him together.

There’s a beautiful hymn from the late 1800’s by Mary Ann Baker called Master the Tempest is Raging. I want to leave you with these lines with you so whatever the weather you find in your sea, peace, be still.

The winds & waves obey thy will: peace, be still. Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea or demons or men or whatever be. No waters can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean and earth and skies. They shall sweetly obey Thy will: Peace, be still.