Weekly Devotion

March 01 2020

The Calm of the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

 

The disciples and John Wesley understood very well the natural fear that comes from troubled waters during a storm. We have a natural tendency to be fearful if we rely on our own reasoning when we face the storms of life. Recognizing that our heart is troubled when we face uncertainty should cause us to understand that our faith is limited to our own opinion of what we see as reality. The solution of fear is in the source of our calm rather than the perception of our storm. 

 

John Wesley guides us very well in regard to our human reasoning. “Let reason do all that reason can: Employ it as far as it will go. But, at the same time, acknowledge it is utterly incapable of giving either faith, or hope, or love; and, consequently, of producing either real virtue, or substantial happiness. Expect these from a higher source, even from the Father of all flesh. Seek and receive them, not as your own acquisition, but as the gift of God”. 

 

You and I can navigate through the troubled waters that we as United Methodists are facing with the peace and calm that Jesus exemplified to the disciples and the Moravians exemplified to John Wesley as they faced the uncertainty of frightening storms. The source of unwavering peace and calm during any storm of life is genuine faith in the Sustainer of life, our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. No storm is greater than the calm found in Jesus Christ.