February 22, 2026
Life is like being in a little boat on a stormy sea. Wind and wave whip and wash over us. We must be ready for it to be rough and tough.
We are battered and beaten by a thousand things: by international issues of war and waste; by noisome national news of crime and corruption; by hatred and horror against the most vital victims, children born and unborn; by screaming scandals of immorality and indecency; by moral pollution and perversion pervading the peoples; by worry at work; by stress at school; by hassle at home; in short, by trials, troubles, and tribulations.
The disciples in Galilee were in no strange situation when that sudden storm arose (Mark 4:35-41). Jesus’ disciples frequently face powerful pressures. The Apostle Paul informed recent converts: “We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). We all face personal problems, from secret sins to daily dilemmas to immense, impending fears for the future.
Amid all our worldly worries, we wonder whether Jesus is asleep again. He slept soundly in that sinking ship; His facial features calmly composed on a pillow. He was not worried. The disciples cried and called as we are tempted at times to do: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Of course, Christ cares! The Lord loves us. He will help, but He need not hurry. He lets a bit of bilge build up in the bottom of the boat. No matter for the Master! We wade through worries and woes. We doubt but that our distresses should get daily deeper. No problem for the Prince of Peace!
Jesus just stands still and stable and solid in the midst of all that motion and commotion. With wonderful words, He whisks away the wind and wipes away the wave. He calls for complete calm, and all the elements obey. He says, “Peace!” And there is perfect peace. He says, “Be still!” And all is quite calm and quiet. The disciples were impressed by Jesus’ power. The Master’s might made them fearful. They asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” We might well worry about this Person’s power because our sins are certainly serious. But we need to know that Jesus’ power is for our peace! His strength is for our salvation! He is no mere man. He is God, the Son of God, the great God, the only God, the almighty God. But the Lord is love! The Sovereign is our Saviour! He fights our foes and fends off our fears.
Jesus holds out hope for help. This hope is not human but heavenly. It is based and built solely and solidly on Jesus Christ, on His life in light and His death in darkness. For His death is our life; His doom, our hope; His cross, our comfort.
Jesus lived the life that we should have lived. He loved as we should have loved. He obeyed as we should have obeyed. And then He died the death that was our due. He was doomed for our disobedience. He ended God’s anger against our sin. He earned eternal life for us. God has forgiven and forgotten our sins forever for Jesus’ sake. Because of Christ, God is gracious to us.
Because of God’s grace in Christ, the Master’s might gives us faith to face the future. We know we need not fear or fret. Jesus loved us long ago, and He loves us lastingly, everlastingly. Our troubles are temporary. Our pains are presently past.
The disciples doubted then. Their faith was far from firm. But Jesus guarded and kept them. We are weak. It may be that we doubt daily. But Jesus loves and leads us nevertheless.
Our troubles and turmoils will soon enough subside. For Jesus, our God, will soon enough decide to say once more: “Peace, be still!”
Then we will wonder why we were worried. Our Lord said to the disciples whom He had recently rescued: “He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Jesus’ majesty and might are combined with care and concern. As prominent as His power is, so great is His grace and goodness toward us.
Our fears will be forgotten. Our faith will be confirmed. Our doubts will be destroyed. All anxieties are banned and banished by the simple sound of Jesus’ winning words: “Peace, be still!”