³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”Mark 4:35-41

I could use a nap.  I know, its Monday morning, I just woke up, but honestly, I need a nap after a long drive through bad weather, with little time to rest.  Add to that so many things happening, and guess what?  I am tired.  And I bet you are too.  We have all been through extreme “stormy weather” the past few years and here Jesus gives us a simple instruction – take a rest in the storm for God has our backs.

We might not have the power to stop bad weather, but we can still say with confidence and faith “Peace, be still” to the storms in our lives.  We have permission to stop and rest, to get away from the problems, even if only for a few moments.  This goes hand in hand with Sabbath rest, not just a day off to catch up on things, but true rest.  The better rested we are, the better we can deal with the problems of the day.

As you travel through this week, take those moments. If things are getting out of hand, rebuke them, say Peace! Be still! Then take a nap. 

Peace,

Pastor Bill