October 15 (Daily reading; Mark 4-5) Earlier this year, when the day arrived for Judy and me to receive our second Covid vaccination, I was a little anxious because of Judy’s Alzheimer’s. Two different nurses attending her told me they could not work after the second shot because they ached so bad. I was concerned that Judy might have a bad reaction and that she would not be able to communicate that to me. On the other hand, if I had to go to bed because of the vaccine, who would take care of her? Or what if both of us were sick?!
But early that morning, I read Mark 4:39, which calmed my spirit. “And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.” How wonderful that Jesus speaks to us in all our circumstances, whether they be mild or bad, making us anxious or downright afraid! He says: “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” (Amplified Bible). Because He is omnipotent, God can muzzle anything Satan throws our way! “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Is.26:3). (By the way, neither of us had any reaction to the shot).
Before He calmed the storm, Jesus “was in the stern, asleep on the cushion” (Mk. 4:38). The disciples were afraid for their lives, and He was sleeping! They did not know that the One who had created the wind and the waves was asleep in their boat! We may not always be able to sleep through the storm, like Jesus did, but we can have His peace during the storm. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you…Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (Jn. 14:27).
– Al Gary
Leave a Reply