Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
For a recent Bible lesson, I was rereading the story of Jesus calming the storm. If you recall, Jesus had just been preaching and sharing parables with crowds of people all wanting His attention. As evening approached, He suggested to the disciples that they all head over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. As He slept in the back, a storm came up and started breaking over the boat. The disciples panicked and assumed the worst. They woke Jesus asking if He cared if they all drowned. Jesus said three words, “Quiet! Be still!” and the wind stopped, and all was calm.
What storm are you facing? Are you panicked or are you calm? Most of us tend to go into panic mode. Unfortunately, it’s in our human DNA. Just think, the disciples were panicked, and they had the Son of God in their ‘sinking’ boat. Actually, in Mark 35 verse 40, that’s the biggest concern Jesus had with the disciples.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
I certainly wouldn’t want Jesus to think I didn’t have faith, but in the midst of storms, it can be challenging. Just because we struggle or question our current situation, doesn’t mean we don’t have faith. Maybe it means we need to let go a bit more and let God take more control. In fact, we would be way better off, in the moments where we FULLY let go and let God take FULL control. If you aren’t there yet, it’s OK – as they say, little by little. Each day we are able to give a little more to Him. Each day we will be given that calming spirit. Finally, fully surrendering, giving all to Him. What a peace we will have.
This particular image is NOT the Sea of Galilee. Instead, I present you with a view of Lake Tahoe (from the Nevada side). I did a comparison of the two bodies of water and the Sea of Galilee is about two thirds the size of Tahoe. That said, the sea the disciples were traveling across measures 13 miles long and 8 miles wide – a good distance in a small boat, in the middle of a storm.