Be Still
I have homeschooled my two children for the past eight years. Because of this, I am almost never alone. However, this school year, we're trying something new. My oldest is attending a Christian school while my youngest is attending a homeschool co-op one day per week.
Do you know what that means? You got it! I get one day of the week to myself!
Every Monday when I walk in the door of my quiet home, an instant calm comes over me. Often a sigh of relief escapes my lips as well. Don't get me wrong: I wouldn't trade my lack of alone time for all the tea in China. A few hours alone -- six and a half to be exact, but who's counting, right? -- is a breath of fresh air.
As I walked in the house yesterday, I felt God calm my spirit. There is peace in the quiet and stillness.
Mark 4:35-41 tells the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the sea in a ship. A great storm rose up and terrified the disciples. Jesus, on the other hand, was taking a nap. The disciples decided to wake Jesus, afraid they were all going to die.
“When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Silence! Be still!' Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 (NLT)
According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary (by Zodhiates), "still" comes from the Greek word meaning "to muzzle." I love this word picture. A muzzle is usually placed on an animal to keep it from biting, to keep the animal from hurting another animal or human.
When the storms of life rise up around us, we are in danger. The disciples were in danger. They were worried about surviving the storm . . . but they made the right decision. They took their fears and uncertainties to Jesus. And what did Jesus do? He took away the storm's ferocious bite. It couldn't harm them anymore. He calmed the sea with a command.
Will we follow the example of the disciples? Will we wring our hands, worry, and hide in our beds, hoping the storm will pass? Or will we take our fears to Jesus, the only One with the power to calm the storm, to muzzle its bite?
