Jesus Calms the Storm
A great storm breaks out on the lake. With a single word, Jesus calms the wind and the waves.
A Calm Evening on the Lake
One evening Jesus and his friends wanted to cross to the other side of the lake in a boat. The sky was calm and the water was still. Jesus was very tired, so he laid his head on a cushion at the back of the boat and fell asleep. All day he had spoken with people, told them beautiful things, and brought healing to the sick; it was very natural for him to be tired. As the boat moved gently along, the sound of the water was like a lullaby. His friends were rowing, some were chatting, and some were looking at the stars. Everything was so calm that no one could have guessed what was about to happen. Lakes are sometimes like this: still and silent one moment, then all foam the next as a wind blows down between the mountains. That is just what happened that night, and while Jesus slept the sky slowly began to darken. His friends paid it little heed at first; but as the wind grew stronger, their hearts began to race like the waves.
The Sudden Storm
But on lakes the weather can change very quickly. Suddenly a strong wind arose. The wind howled, the waves grew bigger and bigger and began to crash against the boat. Water started pouring into the boat. Jesus' friends were very frightened. Even the experienced fishermen had rarely seen such a storm before.
While everything was full of noise, Jesus was still sleeping peacefully. His friends ran and woke him: “Teacher, wake up! We are sinking, does it not matter to you at all?”
Quiet, Be Still!
Jesus calmly opened his eyes. Without any panic, he stood up. He turned to the wind and the waves and said in a gentle but powerful voice: “Quiet! Be still.” In that moment something amazing happened. The wind stopped at once. The huge waves settled down. The lake became as flat and calm as a mirror. Everything grew so quiet that everyone looked at one another in wonder.
Even the Wind Obeys Him
Jesus turned gently to his friends and said, “Why were you so afraid? You can trust me.” His friends whispered in amazement: “Who is this, that even the wind and the waves listen to his word?”
Jesus' story teaches us this: sometimes there are storms in our lives — sadness, fears, worries. Everything can seem like a jumbled mess. But Jesus is the one who can bring peace even to storms. When we are afraid, we can trust him; even in the loudest moments, calm can come to our hearts.
Talk about the story
When Jesus said "Be still," the storm stopped. What helps you feel calm?