That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41
Dear Lord Jesus, quite literally, raging wind and huge waves are beginning to thrash the eastern coast of our country as Hurricane Irene moves northward. We pray for our friends and family in harm’s way, and especially for the poor, who are the most defenseless. Prepare the hearts and engage the hands of your people for heroic deeds of mercy in these next few days. We pray for a dissipation of the storm and multiplied demonstrations of the gospel.
Jesus, we also pray for those who awake this day to destructive winds and threatening waves, no less real, but of a different kind. Family squalls, threatening the already-weakened stability of marriages and parenting; tropical storms on the verge of becoming hurricanes in our churches, targeting the peace and purity of your Bride; relational riptides, tearing friends apart and pulling some out to sea.
Like earlier disciples, our temptation is to cry out, “Jesus, don’t you see what’s going on? Are you under the covers asleep while we are under the threat of great harm? Don’t you care if we drown?” Theologically we know better, but existentially, we’re not so sure at times.
Lord Jesus, if you don’t intend to get us out of the storm yet, then at least come to us in the storm and speak these words persuasively and powerfully to our hearts, “Quiet! Be still!”
Calm our restless, raging hearts. Quell the emotions of panic and fear, anger and cynicism. Bring your tranquility into our instability. As the wind blows and the waves grow, it cannot be “every man for himself.” It’s got to be every woman, man and child for you, Lord Jesus, and each of us for the other. It’s not primarily about our safety, but your glory. Nothing but the gospel is sufficient for such a task, nothing.
We believe, increase our faith in you. If we cannot trust each other, we must trust you or there is no reason or basis for hope. Humble us once again, Jesus. Redemptively terrify us that we might cry out, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him.” So very Amen we pray, in your name and for your glory.