Second Sunday of Advent

December 9th, 2012

A Story from Scripture:  Read Mark 4:1-2, 35-41

A Devotion:  Like Jesus and the disciples in the boat, we face storms of our own in this life.  The winds of change make us uneasy.  Illnesses, financial troubles, relationship problems, difficulties at work or at home come at us like waves that throw us off-kilter.  In short, we become stressed.  In our stressed-out state, we, like the disciples, often turn to Jesus and cry out, "Don't you care?  Don't you care that I am suffering?  Don't you care that I am having a tough time?  Don't you care that things just aren't going right for me now?"  When we don't see any change in our circumstances, we may wonder to ourselves, "Is Jesus asleep at the wheel here?"  I imagine the disciples shaking Jesus awake where they were in peril on the stormy sea.  At times we may feel like we need to do the same.

As the disciples discovered on that boat, Jesus has the power to instantly still the whipping winds and calm the choppy waters.  He may not have done it as soon as they wanted him to and in the way they wanted him to, but the power to help was alwasys there.  And his power to help us is always there too.  All we need to do is replace our fear with faith.

A Prayer:  Calm the storms of my life, O Lord, and calm my troubled soul as well.  Fill me with the confidence of knowing that you are always present with me, even though I may not always see it or sense it.  Instill a deeper faith in me when I feel threatened by all the trials and tribulations in life.  Help me to stand firm in my belief that you are still in charge of my life, no matter what, and still me with your peace at all times.  Amen.