The first time I was on the Sea of Galilee, it looked like glass. I sat on the boat and stared into the water, never seeing water so calm or smooth. During my recent trip, the water wasn’t quite a smooth. But it wasn’t choppy either. I snapped this photo of Mt. Arbel, between Tiberias and Migdal.
The sea was still tranquil. But instead of staring into the water this time, I stood in the front of the boat and looked around at the shoreline. So much of Jesus’ ministry happened on and around the Sea of Galilee. I traced his steps in my memory. I closed my eyes and stopped thinking for a moment. I simply savored being in His presence, not just in the past but in the present.
Although I only had my eyes shut for a moment, when I opened them, I was surprised by the clouds that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Everyone on the boat oohed and aahed that a storm was brewing. It seemed God was showing off. How cool was it to be on the Sea of Galilee and experience a storm to remind us of the storm that He calmed?
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41)
It wasn’t long beforel the wind picked up. It wasn’t anywhere as powerful as the disciples experienced. We weren’t scared or in danger. But we were under a beautiful, powerful cloud. The rain began, and several people ducked under the boat’s roof or pulled a jacket tightly over their heads.
I wonder, “How often do we long for God’s power but avoid it when we experience it?”
To be honest, we can’t handle God’s power in its full strength. But how do we respond to even a smidge of it? Like the disciples, do we wonder if God has forgotten us or that He doesn’t care? Do we imagine He just shows up then leaves us to fend for ourselves?
He doesn’t. It’s not who He is. He’s powerful…and invested. Why do we want Him to show up and show off, then miss out on what that actually entails?
Are you fully enjoying…in awe…of His presence and power?
