One thing I find very spectacular about God is how calm he is. Sometimes, I picture him in my most chaotic days: how calm he'd look, thoroughly unruffled by the many screaming things, looking patiently, lovingly at me because he knows how it's going to end, and because he's the one artfully putting every loudly coloured incident or happening in place.
I believe that back then, while they were travelling by sea, the Lord Jesus chose that particular time on the boat to fall asleep before they were besieged by a storm, knowing fully what was in store. Perhaps he wanted them and us to have forever inscribed in history, a physical depiction of how the Father is even during the most turbulent period of our lives.
"Master, do you not care that we perish?"
These were the words his disciples uttered, and even today, we hear them echo from those around us or deep within us,
"Don't you see me dying here, God? Can't you see the burdens weighing me down, and the many tears I've cried? How could you not care this much?"
But Jesus, our dear, powerful, very much aware Lord, had an answer for them, for the waves, for all of us who are still bothered up until this moment:
"Peace be still."
And then, he went further to ask,
"Why are you so fearful? Do you still have no faith?"
When the problems choke us, and we're going under. When we feel like God is sleeping or doesn't care about us enough to save us, we should comfort ourselves with the knowledge of Jesus' reply.
Why are we so fearful? Have we forgotten that he's on the journey with us, that we're not alone? Have we forgotten it was he who told us to move, to go yonder? Have we forgotten that our lives are hid in him, and that everything in life answers to him, even death? Have we forgotten that in him, everything calmly lies—obedient, tamed, and thoroughly known?
Let's not. Let's never allow the cares of this present time outweigh his promises to us. They are ever true, and speak heavily of his care for us.
Peace, be still. You are loved.
Thanks for this soothing fire.