REFLECTIONS LECTIONS

Sudden Storms by Maressa Mortimer

Mark 4: 35-41

I love boats and just gliding along the water is so peaceful. I have never been on a sailing boat, but from all accounts, it sounds a lot more complex. It’s fine if the wind is blowing at the right setting and in the right direction, but once that changes, you’ll have to work hard!

Life is like that too. Everything is ticking over nicely, we’re walking in sunshine all the time, and suddenly, everything changes. What do we do? The disciples did their very best for a bit until the storm was too much for them. They turned to Jesus who was sleeping, and cried, “Lord, don’t you care about us?”

Of course, sailing a boat for a living is different. Would those sailors still enjoy the peace and beauty around them, or are they simply looking at the sky for the right weather and staring at the water to determine whether it’s time to chuck the nets overboard?

When Jesus and His disciples went out in the boat, it says a sudden storm came. Lakes are known for that, from what I have heard. A friend of mine nearly drowned in Italy. He told me the weather had been perfect for sailing, sunny and with a little breeze. Suddenly, the weather turned violent and he struggled to get back to shore with his boat in one piece.

Jesus stopped the storm and then chided them for their lack of faith in Him. Of course, He cares. He might not stop each storm, but He will bring us through each one, and He most certainly does care. Don’t be afraid of the storm and don’t be afraid to enjoy a beautiful May day either!

Maressa Mortimer is Dutch but lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, England with her husband and four (adopted) children. She is a homeschool mum and a pastor’s wife,. She loves writing Christian fiction, as it’s a great way to explore faith in daily life. Her books are available from her website, www.vicarioushome.com, Amazon or local bookshops.

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