Storms of Life

The Gardner Museum in Boston has Rembrandt’s painting The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. It is his interpretation of the story we find in the Gospel of Mark (chapter 4:35–41). He masterfully depicts the panic etched on the faces of the disciples as their small boat is being lifted up on a high wave. Two of them are attempting to wake Jesus, who is sleeping in the stern of the boat.

It is a beautiful painting. However, if you look closely, you’ll find something that isn’t quite right. There are too many people in the picture. There should only be thirteen (twelve disciples and Jesus). But if you count them, there are fourteen. One of the men in the boat is Rembrandt himself. He has painted himself into the picture! He placed himself in the same boat.

Maybe you feel as though you’ve been in that boat too. Maybe you know what it feels like to have the wind howling and the waves crashing around you… when the pressure of the job is overwhelming, when the marriage is struggling, or when the bills are piling up, or the stress of caring for a loved one is crushing.

I think we’ve all had those moments.

In the story in Mark, Jesus calms the storm. He says to the wind, “Peace. Be still.” And there is dead calm. Then he turns to the disciples and asks, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

If you feel as though you’re in the midst of the storm today, know that you are not alone. There is One who stands with you. There is One who has a claim on your life. There is One who has the power to calm the storms. Trust in him.

Let us pray:  O God, in the midst of the storms, calm our fears, and help us to trust. May we hear your voice again today: “Peace. Be still.” Amen.