And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already

filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind,

and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they

feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the

sea obey Him!” (Mark 4:36-41)

Sometimes our fears develop a powerful life of their own. A dear friend, who loves the LORD

Adonai, called one morning to share with me that she had been going through an incredibly

difficult season in her life. She was plagued with health, life, and financial trials. Fear and

anxiety consumed her. She wasn’t sleeping. As she was in her bed praying and crying, she

began to think about Jesus in the boat in the storm – and to imagine going into the boat and

lying down by Jesus. She said she asked the Lord if she could lay her head on the cushion near

His power and His peace and sleep. And then she fell off to sleep and experienced an incredible

restoration. This struck me because most of us, just like the disciples, ask the Lord to come to

where our fears reside when we should be moving to where the Father resides, in His power

and His peace.

Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went

over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to

them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So, when they had rowed

about three or four miles, they saw Jesus, walking on the sea and drawing near the boat;

and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly

received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were

going. (John 6:16-21)

The Lord knows what we are afraid of. He is always walking toward us. His power is awesome

and when we turn to Him for help, He has the power to move us forward onto the safe shore. I

don’t know what you are afraid of, but I would encourage you to go with confidence to the stern

of the boat to rest in the power and peace of Jesus. 

By Kimberly Pope