Quiet! Be still!

Powerful!

35 [a]On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!”[b] The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 [c]They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”-Mark4:35-41

"Let us cross to the other side." Jesus is aware of His mission. He knows if something is accomplished. If He can stay for days in a town, He can leave when it is time to do so. Certain things end. Certain episodes in our life end. We have to acknowledge if something has come to an end. And if we are aware of endings in our life, we should also be aware and open for the brand new beginnings and new chapters in our life.

'Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion... “Quiet! Be still!”' Sometimes this is what we are supposed to do in times of crisis - to sleep and relax in faith that God will help us, to be quiet and be still during rough times, and to say in our difficulties, 'Quiet! Be still!'

Image courtesy: The Bible (History Channel)

Better Alternative

Do not be afraid.

16 When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea[a] and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I.[b] Do not be afraid.” 21 They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.-John6:16-21

This is the first time I'm reading this version of Jesus walking in the water. But what struck me the most is the last line in the gospel - 'They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.' I was touched by it because there are many times in my life when I made many plans, many proposals, many promises to God but in the end, He has another plan for me. I tried to make God give me what I want at a certain point in my life, but it was never granted. Though my request was not granted, God gave me a much better gift - I know and still learning Love. It is indeed true that God knows what is best for us.

Image courtesy: The Bible – History Channel