Last night I read with my children how Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat (see Mark 4:35-41).  Jesus was sleeping as a gigantic storm came up.  The wind began to blow.  The waves began to rise.  The boat began to fill.  The disciples began to panic.  And Jesus was still sleeping.  The terrified fisherman woke Jesus.  Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves, “Peace! Be still!”  The wind became still.  The sea became still.  And the fisherman were still terrified – but now for a different reason.  “Who is this who commands the wind and waves?”

I recently wrote about how Lake Superior gives me a glimpse of God’s power.  As I see the powerful waves, I am reminded of God’s greater power.  And yet this story from Jesus’ life reminds me that the powerful waves of Lake Superior are no match for God’s power.  The waves of Lake Superior at their greatest are nothing compared to God.  With just a word, Jesus could instantly calm the waves of Lake Superior.  With just a word, God could calm the wind and waves and water of the hurricane that just soaked the east coast.  Peace!  Be still!  This is real power.  No wonder the disciples were afraid.  No wonder we are told to fear God.  We would be fools not to fear.

Amazingly, this great power comes along side of us.  When we are weak and hurting, God’s great power that calms the wind and waves rests upon us, calming our hearts and giving us strength to endure (II Corinthians 12:9-10).  And that great power that terrified the disciples long ago is now transforming his disciples today, powerfully changing our hearts (Ephesians 1:19).  With such great power at work in our lives, anything is possible.