Family & Children’s Ministry

— Sarah Huck Family & Children's Ministry Director

Greetings Grace Families, Storms. We all have them, don’t we? Maybe it’s the April showers, along with the beautiful new picture Pastor Curt has in his office of Rembrandt’s The Storm of Galilee, that have me thinking of storms, Jesus, and life.

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

I love this story. It’s a true story – about people like me – who sometimes forget what God has promised and who He truly is. Do you see it? Before the disciples even got on that boat, Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side.” He told them that they would reach the other shore. But in the midst of the storm, the disciples forgot this promise spoken just hours before. We forget, too, don’t we? We can be so quick to fall into fear, doubt, and panic. We look for ways to take control of the situation. We ask others for answers, we exhaust our energy and resources, and then, in a last-ditch effort, we cry out to God to save us from the storm – from the difficult situation. This story is interesting. We know Jesus was a praying man. Every morning He talked with His Father in heaven (Mark 1:35). But when the terrified disciples woke Him, He didn’t pray. Instead, He stood up and took divine authority over the elements. The storm was in the way of God’s plan, and Jesus simply commanded it, “Quiet! Be still!”

Last fall I saw this play out in my life in a very real way. I was with Robin Stuber on the way back from Napa Valley to Sac- ramento – at least an hour and a half drive. We had visited Robin’s brother and it was late and very dark as we headed to our hotel. On top of that, we found ourselves in the most torrential rainstorm I have ever experienced. I have driven many times over the pass in crazy rain – sometimes hydroplaning – but this was something altogether different. On the unfamiliar freeway, I completely panicked. I couldn’t see the car in front of me. I couldn’t see the fog lines. I couldn’t see anything. I was terrified.

After what seemed like hours, we took an exit, having no idea where it went. But I had to get off that freeway. We found ourselves going down a country dirt lane. It reminded me of some dark and scary forest like in Snow White. Literally no light, just huge trees looming over the road. No houses, no other cars. Just darkness and rain. I was so upset; I began to cry! But Robin? She was fine. She said, “We’re just going to speak to this storm.”

“What? That is absurd,” I thought. I was preparing to spend the night in the car rather than get back on that freeway.

Robin continued, “Sarah, remember the storm in Mark? We can speak to this storm!” I probably rolled my tear-filled eyes and said something like, “Sure. Whatever.” I was upset that she wasn’t as panicked as me and didn’t understand that we were about to die on that freeway. I don’t recall if Robin got out of the car or just sat up in a commanding way, but she spoke to the storm. And you know what? The rain stopped. No, not instantly, but after about 10 minutes you could hear it start to relent, and then no rain at all. We made our way back to the freeway and arrived safely at our hotel.

It was interesting that Robin didn’t pray for God to save us or keep us safe, although that’s what I was praying. She simply commanded the rain to stop. I had never seen nature obey someone before. Looking back, it was almost as if I was on that boat on Galilee. And I picture Jesus asking me, “Why were you so afraid? Did you forget who I am and what I can do? Where was your faith?”

Jesus did not send the disciples out into the storm without first equipping them with the faith they needed to combat it. They knew Jesus. They had seen Him do miraculous things, just as we have experienced His love and power in real ways. Robin remembered, and she picked up her tool of faith and quieted the storm.