Peace. Be Still.

Mark 5:35-40 ESV:“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’”

The disciples and Jesus had been among the crowds, and Jesus had been teaching when He directed them to leave and cross the Sea of Galilee. He was fully God and fully man—tired from the day, He fell asleep in the stern of the boat. Yet, a massive storm arose, threatening all their lives. The disciples were experienced fishermen, and I’m sure they knew a "life-threatening" storm when they saw one. But Jesus? He was just sleeping through it. Naturally, they woke Him, essentially asking, “Teacher, won’t you fret with us about our demise? Don’t you care what Your leadership has brought us to?”

And yet, Jesus didn’t rebuke them first—He rebuked the wind and waves. He addressed their circumstances with peace before speaking to their hearts. He handled the practical before addressing the spiritual. In doing so, the disciples didn’t just see their “Teacher”—they saw God Himself. This was no longer just a wise man guiding them; this was the Creator, the One who speaks to the storm and causes it to cease, who rebukes nature itself under His divine authority.

It’s His boat, His sea, His course, His shore, His people. And what does He do? Jesus saves them. He saves them from their fears, their circumstances, and their hopelessness. He provides exactly what they need to build their faith. Up until now, they had walked with Him, but in this moment, they truly saw Him for who He is—their salvation. And in seeing Him, they also realized who they are not.

Sometimes, God takes us to shores that are unknown. In the process, we find ourselves tossed about in very real, life-threatening circumstances. But it is for this very reason that He is with us—to show Himself as God, calming the storms of our lives and fulfilling His purposes for us. He is no longer just our "Teacher." In the midst of our trials, we finally see Him for who He is: our only salvation, God incarnate, who alone can command the wind and the waves to cease.

When we truly see God for who He is, we can’t help but be filled with awe and fear. We realize how utterly unlike us He is. We’ve underestimated His power in light of our circumstances, and we’re humbled to fear Him above all else. And yet, the beauty of His character is this: while He has the power to judge and destroy, He chooses to bring peace. He reveals His nature—that He is for us. If God is for us, what then should we fear?

So, what are you fearing today? Repent and give it to God, knowing He cares for you. Let Him speak, “Peace. Be still,” in your area of need.