At times, anxiety can sneak up on me and try to pin me down. Through Christ who strengthens me, I am learning to battle it much more effectively. Instead of immediately acting out in panic, I try to: Deep breath. Pray. Be still. Have faith.
I’ve received quite a bit of help from the scripture below. Its a constant reminder on how to approach various situations that seem to be out of control.
The Bible describes a situation where Jesus and his disciples were going to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. During this time, Jesus falls asleep and a potent storm breaks out and the boat began to violently rock and shake. The high winds sent crashing waves into the boat causing it to take in a large amount of water. In distress, the disciples were filled with panic and woke Jesus up exclaiming how the boat was going to sink and they were going to drown. Jesus then calmly got up, rebuked the storm and then explained to them that everything will be fine if they just have faith.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “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?” – Mark 4:37-40
When our storms are raging, Jesus offers peace. He is in our boats with us.
Digging a little deeper, do you think that the disciples were in distress because Jesus was sleeping while the storm was present? Without his watchful eye on them, do you think they lacked a sense of security? I think that Jesus may have wanted to show his disciples to simply remain calm and have faith even if he was not physically there with them.
A very interesting video regarding the painting used in this article can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Yh… The artist goes into great detail about the symbolism that he used in the masterpiece.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
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