He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

— Matthew 8:26

This past year I was privileged to be on a wonderful mission trip to the small town of Mahdia in Guyana. I became a little fearful one day, though, when I saw a tarantula hanging on the wall of an outhouse. I was incredibly thankful for a pastor who knew how to bring calm into that scary situation for me. He did it with a gracious smile on his face and a broom in his hand—and I still wonder what he was really thinking of this Canadian at that moment.

Jesus’ disciples had been with him long enough to have watched him step in, heal the sick, provide food, and do other miracles. And yet there in a boat, in the midst of “a furious storm,” fear showed up again. This storm was probably bigger than most of the storms these fishermen had seen over the years—and the moment of panic set in. I sometimes wonder if they had forgotten who was in the boat with them, or if maybe they were just annoyed that he was sleeping.

Nevertheless, Jesus’ question applies to us today just as it did to his first followers: If you know me, “why are you afraid?” In what difficulties do you hear him say, “Trust me in whatever you are facing, and see what I can do”?

God, forgive us when we walk in fear instead of faith. Thank you for being bigger than our fear. Help us to remember that even in the midst of the biggest storms, you, the Lord of all, are able to bring calm. Amen.