While the late autumn sun streams into my study window, I hear that we may yet get wild and wintry weather before too long. Some have told me there will be snow in October - which starts tomorrow! How will we cope if we get a tough winter? As far as some forecasters are saying, the economy will be worse, there will be more unemployment and loads more shops will be shutting. Stormy weather indeed.
The disciples had some extraordinary experiences with Jesus.
'But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.' (Mark 4.37) As we know, Jesus was asleep and the disciples were terrified they would all drown. They woke Jesus, and he showed himself to be 'the man who calmed the sea', as we have sung recently in church.
But the very next story shows Jesus calming a different sort of storm.
'When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.' (Mark 5.2-5)
This storm-tossed man had no one to help him - except Jesus, who drove out the evil spirits, and restored him to life again. I guess the disciples were astonished by these two events. What did they learn?
All of us face storms of one sort or another - external or internal - and the same Jesus can prove himself in our lives to be the man who calms the sea. I have to learn to give to Him, every day, all the storms which come my way. Daily, he proves himself good at his job!
Best wishes,
Richard
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