Peace, Be Still

I speak often of my experiences in Galilee, as that is where I grew close to Christ. Though I did not need to travel the thousands of miles to increase spiritually, there are some things that you just don't know unless you're there. You can't understand a New York ice storm unless you've experienced it. Likewise, you don't understand the sea of Galilee unless you've been there.

Most often the sea of Galilee is depicted as very placid and calm. And during the day it is a true depiction. It is serene and undisturbed. That is, unless there is wind. After class on the fourth day in Galilee, my class had a free afternoon. Most of us ran outside to swim after lunch, however, it was a rather windy day. The waves came up in great swells. A few friends and I were brave enough to wade into this threatening water. There were ropes that prevented us from going too far out, the water didn't even go above my head. But, as we swam to the edge, attempting to body surf, the waves would scoop us up, tossing us about until we reached the shoreline. So close to the shore, but so powerful were the waves.

In Mark 4 we read about Christ calming the sea.

 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

The apostles are often chastised for their lack of faith. But the reality of the storm was daunting. For the sea, so calm under the protection of day, begins to change as the sun sinks below the horizon. 

As I sat on the beach late at night, the waves were far greater than during the windy day I swam. Each night, great whitecaps would crash across the water; a sound that could be heard all through the night. And that is a calm night in Galilee. How terrifying must it have been?

But so, as Christ calmed the water, does he not calm our lives as he whispers to us in the midst of despair "peace, be still". When we lack faith, does he not remind us that he is ever near us, guiding us as we walk through the trials of life? Just as he did with the apostles, he calms the storms in our life.