Peace in the Storm

Lake Winnipesaukee sits at the foothills of the White Mountains in New Hampshire.  The spring-fed lake is 72 sq. miles.  Winnipesaukee is an Indian name meaning "The Smile of the Great Spirit."  (In my opinion, God‘s smile was placed upon this outstandingly beautiful lake.  He must have put extra attention into creating it.)  It is the largest lake in New Hampshire and the third largest in New England.  There are six main bays on the Lake and approximately 264 islands.  The large central portion of the Lake is known as "The Broads."  It runs from the northwest to the southeast, is relatively free from islands, and is very deep.
 
High winds are common on Lake Winnipesaukee.  The shape and location of the Lake makes it vulnerable to the southeast winds that come inland.  It is not unusual for hurricane winds to hit the Lake.  The "personality" of Winnipesaukee can change quickly if the winds arise, particularly in the open area of The Broads. A boater may embark on a trip across the Lake with calm waters only to find that an hour later the winds have increased significantly, making the surface of the water choppy with high waves and white caps. The trip home for this boater will be uncomfortable as the boat will pound across the water.  This is particularly true if the boat is moving against the wind.  My family and I experienced the fury of the recent hurricane at Lake Winnipesaukee last week.  Trees were bending over from the strength of the wind, and the surface of the water became rough and chaotic.  Boaters who were on the Lake quickly set a course for home.
 
Watching this storm, I remembered that Jesus stilled a storm for the disciples who were trying to get across the Sea of Galilee.  They left the spot where Jesus had been teaching and headed toward the Gerasene region.  Scripture says, "Suddenly, as they were crossing the Lake, a ferocious tempest arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was all but swamped.  But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on cushion.  So they shook Him awake, saying, 'Teacher, don't you even care that we are all about to die!'  Fully awake, He rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, 'Hush!  Calm down!'  All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.
 
Then He turned to His disciples and said to them, 'Why are you so afraid?  Haven't you learned to trust yet?'  But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, 'Who is this man who has such authority that even the wind and waves obey Him?'" (Mark 4:37-41 - TPT)
 
Do you understand what happened here?  The disciples lost sight of the fact that Jesus was in the boat with them!  Yes, they were in a ferocious storm, but the One who commands the wind and water to do His bidding (Psalm 148:7-8) was with them.  Yes, He was sleeping, but peace was all around Him.  When the disciples woke Him up it only took a word from Jesus to calm the water and waves.  "Hush!  Calm down!"
 
We are also in a season of storms of many different kinds.  We are in uncharted territory without knowing what to do.  However, every Believer has the answers on how to survive the storms.  Look to Jesus, the One who is in our boat with us.  "...He makes the clouds His chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.  He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants." (Psalm 104:3-4)  Look to Jesus and receive His peace.