Turmoil and Rough Seas

Marines and sailors alike are familiar with the phrase, "Fair winds and a following sea." It is nautical speak for "have a nice day," "Peace be upon you," or "good luck." It literally means that the well wisher hopes you will maintain your momentum with as little effort as possible.

But life isn't always like that.

Most Christians and even many non churchgoers are familiar with the story in Mark 4 of how Jesus calmed the storm. In short, Jesus was sleeping in a little boat with His disciples when a sudden, strong storm hit their little flotilla. Being human, and maybe even because of the personal experiences of the many fishermen among them, they feared the storm's strength to capsize their little craft. In response to the turmoil around them, the disciples woke Jesus with the accusation found in Mark 4:38.

"Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Can I say, that is so like us, isn't it? Here sailed the most blessed members in human history - men who walked, ate, slept, and yes sailed with The Messiah - in a time of amazing revelation, and they accused the maker of all things of being careless with their lives. Again consistent with human behavior, the disciples focused on the rage and chaos wrought by the storm instead and discounted the presence of God right along with them in that storm.

Like most stories, Servant Leader, the disciples' tale doesn't end there. No, after waking, Jesus spoke first to the storm in verse 39, and then to His disciples in verse 40.

“Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Wow!

As servant leaders, we often feel like we have much on our plates. Not only must we provide for our family, but we must perform for our employer, we must mentor our subordinates, and we must do it all while following closely God's word and His path for our lives. But sometimes all that responsibility leads to turmoil - rough seas, if you will - and we lose focus of the fact that God is in control. Christ's own disciples asked, "Who is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41, NIV)

Well, if I must, this is Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of all whose Spirit is above all, in all, and through all. Maybe the lesson here is that sometimes it takes an insurmountable crisis (in our view) to return us to the ground He wants us on. I must admit, fellow Servant Leader, that if Jesus can calm that storm that was so ferocious that it caused the disciples to question Jesus' intentions, then I'm certain He can calm any storm in my life. As His servant leader, I just need to listen when He says, "Be still." Maybe, just maybe, He's actually talking to me, and not to my storm.

(Painting of "Never Forsaken" by Abraham Hunter)