As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:35–41).

In this passage, the twelve disciples of Christ came face-to-face with a life-threatening crisis. They were travelling in a boat to another side of the Sea of Galilee with Jesus when a “fierce storm” arose. Jesus was sleeping in the stern—probably exhausted after a long day of teaching and healing. The storm was so strong that the waves “broke over the boat” and it was “nearly swamped” (v 37). If I were in that life or death situation, my instant instinct would be similar to that of the disciples—frantically trying to keep the boat afloat, using their own strength but to no avail. But then Jesus’ help was sought. He stilled the storm!

How often do we pull out, without hesitation, our weapon of defense when a crisis comes knocking at our door? We begin to analyze the situation and see how best it can be resolved. Our brains begin to seek solutions. Perhaps, we even rope in our family and friends to assist. I remember, recently, when I almost lost my voice because of a sore throat. My first reaction was to go to the clinic. Having seen three doctors, including a specialist, my condition did not improve. I was reminded of the woman who was “subject to bleeding for twelve years . . . suffered a great deal . . . care of many doctors . . . spent all she had . . . grew worse” (Mark 5:25-34). I asked myself, “Would I want to be in her shoes?” So when the specialist told me to have a biopsy done, I said, “No,” and prayed for God’s healing. While walking in a supermarket, I was prompted to buy a bottle of cough mixture from the shelf. After taking it for a day, I had dislodged chunks of phlegm from my throat and my voice slowly returned. Praise be to our Lord!

In Daniel 2:17-23, we read of the prophet’s first reaction to the King’s command of execution if no one can reveal and interpret his dream. Daniel “returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends . . . urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven.” In Acts 4:23-31, we read of the release of Peter and John who “went back to their own people and reported all . . . they raised their voices together in prayer to God” and amazing results were experienced!

We need to program our instant reaction in any situation to that of prayer, rather than perspiration!  —submitted by Swee Kiat, Singapore