09/09/2026
Wednesday in the Word – 9-9-26
Rev. Mimi Biedron
24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:24-27
On the one hand, the disciples knew to ask Jesus to save them when their boat was struck by a violent storm. On the other hand, when he did save them, they were amazed and asked one another, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him!”
I don’t know what they expected he’d do: steer the boat? Move the rudder? Jump overboard and tow them in? What they did NOT expect was that with a word of command, Jesus could stop the storm altogether.
One of my favorite hymns is “Be Still My Soul,” a reminder to all of us that God is greater than any of the storms of our lives, the difficulties and the challenges. Even as the wind and waves will subsided at the command of the Creator, so also the terrifying turmoil we experience in mind and spirit can be calmed by God.
We can use that reminder in these uncertain times! When the news is all bad, when we fear for the future, when we discover we must do hard things and endure great tests of faith, Christ is with us just as much as in the times when we feel actively blessed. It will not make the challenges easy, but it will still the storm in our hearts and minds so that we can go on living and loving and following Jesus.
Prayer: God, we thank you that your deep calm and love can reach us even in the darkest times, in the greatest dangers, in the most fearful moments. All we need to do is to call out, as the disciples did, “Lord, save us!” Give us the faith and humility to do that, and to stay alert to the times when you will send us to help calm the storms in the lives of others. Forgive us when we are afraid, and shine your light on our path every day. Amen.
