In his Pulitzer Prize winning book, “The Denial of Death”, Ernest Becker speaks of the fears that we grapple with in each of our lives. Some of those are fear of rejection, abandonment, failure, separation, and loss. However, are those mere manifestations of the one ultimate fear - the fear of death? Maybe he is right! How do we overcome that ultimate fear? Faith. It is the only antidote that will exercise the demons of fears that can haunt us. For some, death takes away our control of our life. Can death be seen in divorce? Can death be seen in alcoholism? Can death be seen in abuse? Death is after destruction of a storm that has weathered in our lives. Death can be seen in divorce as an end to a relationship. However, the haunting of the other spouse continues to rehash the pain and there is no control.
Death can also be seen in alcoholism as it kills relationships with others, or the body and sometimes the consequences of drunk driving. There is no control when a drunk kills. Death does take away the control of life. Have you ever seen the movie “Meet Joe Black”? It is the spin-off of an earlier movie entitled “Death Takes a Holiday”. There are no boundaries when it comes to human life. When people are faced with death, hair turns white and the skin turns pale like white ash. Death is like a black blanket overwhelming your breath and you lose control to its powers. You find yourself surrendering helplessly into the blackness.
Stephen Crane wrote a poem: A man said to the universe, "I exist." "That may be true," said the universe, "however that has never created in me a sense of obligation to you." There are many of us who can relate to Crain and have cried out in pain and despair. The cries can be heard or sometimes we turn to our own self-devices to ease the pain. We usually pray and expect something to be done.
What do we really expect God to hear, to care, to act? Or, are we only talking to ourselves? On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" Mark 4:35-41
People who loved Him deeply asked two of the most compelling questions in the New Testament of Jesus. When a fierce storm threatened to sink their boat in the Sea of Galilee. His disciples asked, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38). On another occasion, Mary was listening to Jesus, and Martha being upset and furiously barged in from the kitchen and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? (Luke 10:40)
People who had seen the power of Jesus and expected Him to step in and relieve their anxiety asked both questions. When it seemed that the Lord was ignoring their situation, an element of exasperation was added: "Don't You care?" I woke up one morning at 4am and heard my daughter crying in her room. I gently called to her as I was getting out of my bed to go see her. “Amber… Amber. Are you okay?” She said she was scared and I explained to her to come with Daddy. I held her in my arms and we fell asleep. The next morning as I was taking her to school she held my hand and looked at me with tender eyes and said, “Thank you for cuddling me and keeping me safe last night.” We do not know the voice in which Jesus spoke to his disciples but I can only imagine He could have used a gentle voice like I used with my daughter.
Listen and imagine Jesus saying the following, “Why are you so fearful?" "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things" When we're feeling alone or overwhelmed by our circumstances, we often cry out, "Lord, don't You care?" But when Jesus calms our storm and speaks our name, we realize that we have much more to learn. What can we truly learn from all of this? Have you really read the scripture? Let’s pull something out of it and examine it more closely. Notice these men were fishermen! They have been through storms before! They were veterans and they were confident in their own strength. Jesus was fast asleep and the storm didn’t bother Him. When we begin to rely on ourselves we begin to think that we don’t need God. We try to fix our problems by ourselves. When we have God in our lives we can sleep through the storm and be at peace in knowing that He will take care of us.
We know what it feels like at times to wonder whether God cares or whether we matter. Then it happens in our life, much like it happened to the disciples. Suddenly, Jesus speaks a word and the storm is over. It has passed. On the surface it would seem that the problem of the disciples had been solved, and they would cheer in celebration. But understand what the text says because the implications are great. Rather than removing their fear, Jesus multiplied it. They had been afraid of the storm. Now everything was up for grabs. Everything they had known and everything they had experienced was questioned. This person could speak a word and calm the wind and the water!
When God is working in our life, the peace is so overwhelming we become afraid of it. Maybe God has put someone special into your life and you are overwhelmed by it. We are much more comfortable when we can explain things, when we are able to categorize and to use God’s message in our lives. However, when God breaks through the storms in our lives, sometimes He has to calm the child and not the storm. God has to enable us to trust in Him.
Nobody is trouble-free. God's people are not exempt. When faced with troubles, we often turn to God and see Him more clearly or in a new way. He often molds our life through trouble. Will your trouble make you bitter or better? If your storm is still in your life then God is trying to calm you and hold you. Sometimes the Father is already calling you and wanting to invite you into his arms of safety.
When was the last time you looked with tender eyes and said “Thank you for holding me last night and keeping me safe”? Let go and let God control the storm. Let Him calm the inner child within you by being aware of the signs and messages He gives you. Peace be still. Are you ready to let go of the control in your life and let God weather the storm for you? Don’t be troubled by many things for this only strengthens the storms in your life. Don’t let the fear of death take you away from God.
Peace be still.
Say it over and over and soon you will have peace. Just fall asleep in the boat of your life and let God bring you safely through the storms of your life. Peace be still in your heart. You don’t have to worry about the economy when you know your riches are in Him who will provide as long as you have faith.
May God bless you and let Him calm your soul.God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, Psalms 46:1-2
