Experiencing Peace. Why I am a Christian 24

"A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped." (Mark 4:37, HCSB) How often don't we face unimaginable storms in our lives? Some worry that they will be laid off; students who have finished their degrees wonder if they will find work; when your child is severely ill, you are afraid he or she will never get better. Others worry about war -- and with all the arsenal of atomic weapons, who can sleep soundly?

There are, however, those who have jobs but don't enjoy them. The boss likes to shout and put you down; your colleagues can undermine what you are doing... In all of this, we wonder if we can ever find peace.

Those poor disciples were facing a terrible storm in a small boat. How could they survive this horrific storm?

"But He (Jesus) was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion." (Mark 4:38a, HCSB)

How is this possible to sleep deeply while a storm is brewing? I certainly would wake up quite quickly. But then, I am not Jesus...

Jesus didn't have any fear. He knew our Heavenly Father, and He understood there was nothing to worry about. As a result, He continued to sleep as if nothing were happening. I truly believe that this storm would help the disciples learn to trust more and more in our Heavenly Father.

In the minds of the disciples, however, there was no hope. They were going under for sure, and there was nothing they could do.

"So they woke Him up and said to Him, 'Teacher! Don't You care that we're going to die?' " (Mark 4:38B, HCSB)

Interestingly, they started to doubt Jesus. They thought He didn't care...

Aren't we all the same? Something wrong happens to us, and we wonder if our Father really cares for us at all…

"He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still! " The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39, HCSB)

After all, Jesus is God. All adversities in our life can be washed away with just one of His commands.

Unfortunately for the disciples, they had forgotten who Jesus was. They were too focused on the storm. We are so much the same. We panic, forgetting that Jesus is always close to us. Why are we troubled?

"Then He said to them, 'Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?' And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!" Jesus slept because He had faith in His Heavenly Father."

Too often, just like the disciples, we want to do something to calm our storms. Most of the time we stir it up and make it worse. Nonetheless, we, too, can have that peace. The disciples eventually started to trust Jesus more and more. From fearful disciples, they became bold. When they were later persecuted, they praised God. Peter was crucified upside down, and he was glorifying God in the process. In fact, all the disciples, except for John, died cruel deaths. They had no more fear. They had found the peace that this world doesn't understand. They knew they were heading to see Jesus again!

At times, I panic as well. I am learning, though, from my Father, that He will always come through.

My latest storm was when my computer died. One minute is was working perfectly, and the next minute I ended up with a black screen. I had lost a lot of important documents, including many files for this ministry. I had learned, however, that I didn't need to panic. I was at peace. God came through. He led me in finding some of these important documents.

Why worry? Our Heavenly Dad will help us find peace, even amidst turmoil!

Rob Chaffart