ROOTED - Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Mark 4:38-40

38  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they
woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are
perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the
wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased,
and there was a great calm. 40 He said to
them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Reflection: Jesus Calms the Sea

Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro

I have seen enough videos of rough waters on a cruise ship to know
that I am not sure I ever want to go on a cruise. I don’t think I have ever
been seasick, but if there were rough waters (like on those cruise ship videos)
I am quite certain I would be. A few years ago, I merely was in the water at
Myrtle… riding the waves for several hours, and that evening I got a bad case
of vertigo. So, when I read the story in Mark of the disciples being afraid of
the waves… I think, with dread, of videos of storms on cruise ships, and
extreme vertigo. My heart goes out to those poor disciples.

The disciples, in sheer desperation, awaken Jesus to calm the sea.
Now, I do not want to over-spiritualize the story, but sometimes I feel like I
am in a storm. I feel like I am overly stressed, overly concerned about the circumstances
around me, and I (like the disciples) go to Jesus. It is the natural thing to
do… run to Jesus who can help. The good news, dear friend, is that this is
Jesus’ specialty: calming storms, rebuking winds, and brining peace. So, keep
running to Jesus in your storm. Leave it in his hands… because he is a storm
calming God.

Prayer

Lord, calm the storms of our lives! Bring about peace in our
circumstances because we are your people and we need help!

As Pastor Jesse concludes his time on staff, our Rooted devotionals will also be taking a break for a season. Thank you for joining us on this journey through God's Word.