6/2/2023 0 Comments Lets sink into the wavesWaves of fear can distract us, causing us to forget God’s goodness, thus leaving our perspective short-sighted and out of focus. In times of turmoil our faith can feel stretched to the limits of our endurance and understanding. Recent events around the globe and in our nations, communities, and families have buffeted us with unforeseen trials. Their focus was on surviving the moment, and their plea for help was urgently sincere. I can picture them handling the sails and trying to maintain some semblance of control over their little craft. I can imagine that Jesus’s disciples in the storm-tossed boat were, of necessity, busy watching the waves crash onto their deck and bailing out the water. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” 19 To those with proven faith, childlike faith, or even the smallest particle of faith, 12 Jesus invites, saying: “Come unto me.” 13 “Believe on my name.” 14 “Learn of me, and listen to my words.” 15 He tenderly commands, “Repent and baptized in my name,” 16 “Love one another as I have loved you,” 17 and “Always remember me.” 18 Jesus reassures, explaining: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. There is a mortal tendency, even a temptation, when we find ourselves in the middle of trials, troubles, or afflictions to cry out, “Master, carest thou not that I perish? Save me.” Even Joseph Smith pleaded from an awful prison, “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” 11Ĭertainly, the Savior of the world understands our mortal limitations, for He teaches us how to feel peace and calm even when the winds blow fiercely around us and billowing waves threaten to sink our hopes. And the wind, and there was a great calm.” 8 Ever the Master Teacher, Jesus then taught His disciples through two simple yet loving questions. He is also “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning.” 7įrom His position in the boat, Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and said unto the raging sea, “Peace, be still. They called Him “Master,” and that He is. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” 5 We don’t know how long they battled to keep the boat afloat in the storm, but they woke Jesus with a bit of panic in their voices, saying: And now their boat was in the middle of a tempest and on the very verge of sinking. Their faith in Him was evident by their presence in the boat. They had left jobs, personal interests, and family to follow Jesus. They were His trusted-indeed, His beloved-disciples. Many of Jesus’s disciples were experienced fishermen and knew how to handle a boat in a storm. Soon “there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was full” 4 of water. Finding a spot in the back of the ship, Jesus lay down and quickly fell asleep. And when they had sent away the multitude,” 3 they departed from the shore and were on their way across the Sea of Galilee. “And … when the was come,” He said unto His disciples, “Let us pass over unto the other side. All day long He taught the people in parables as they sat on the shore. In Mark we read that Jesus “began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude.” 1 The crowd became so numerous that Jesus “entered into a ship” 2 and spoke from its deck. Such an event happened with Jesus’s disciples during His mortal ministry. Whether we are old or young, many of us have, in moments of distress, uttered with urgency words such as “Help me!” “Save me!” or “Please, answer my prayer!” In any case, she climbed back onto the deck, where we wrapped her in a dry towel and complimented her on her bravery. Perhaps it was the chill of the water or the newness of the experience. Yet from her perspective, she needed help. We could have reached out and pulled her back on the deck with little effort. ![]() Now, she was not in any mortal danger her life jacket was doing its job, and she was floating safely. She immediately popped up and with a bit of panic in her voice yelled, “Help me! Help me!” ![]() With all the courage she could muster, she plugged her nose with one hand and jumped. Our youngest daughter watched with hesitation, carefully observing her siblings. One afternoon some of the children put on life jackets before jumping off a deck and into the water. When our children were young, our family spent a few days at a beautiful lake.
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