READ: MATTHEW 8: 23-27
“Why are you so afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. (V. 26)
The whaleship Essex left Nantucket in November 1820 for a 2 ½ year whale hunt. Due to the depletion of whales in the Atlantic, the Essex headed for the prosperous waters of the southern Pacific. Successfully negotiating the treacherous waters of Cape Horn, they ventured into the largely uncharted southern Pacific waters looking for their prey. However, their hunt ended abruptly when their ship was attacked and destroyed by an enraged sperm whale off the coast of Chile. The crew of 21 was set adrift in 3 whaleboats with no real navigational directions. The vast ocean constantly changed from dead calm into a storm triggered raging inferno. Blistering heat and dehydration from lack of fresh water, caused the deaths of 17 and brought the others to the verge of insanity. Three months later the 4 who managed to survive were rescued off the coast of Peru, ending their harrowing journey. (Read- “In the Heart of the Sea-The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex” by Nathaniel Philbrick for the true story that inspired the novel Moby Dick.)
While taking Jesus to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the Disciples encountered, not an angry whale, but a violent storm that threatened their lives. The ferocity of the storm caused them to panic as they were faced with a life and death situation. The storm would not only test their seamanship but also their faith in Jesus. Despite electing to be disciples, Jesus knew their faith was lacking the strength and conviction necessary for the upcoming days of testing. It was not until Jesus rebuked them and the storm, that they finally took the first transformational steps to becoming believers and setting their faith upon the firm foundation of Christ.
We all start each year with great anticipation, like the crew of the Essex and the Disciples, not expecting to be confronted with uncharted waters. In the year 2020, we all had our worlds literally turned upside down. The COVID pandemic seemed to catch us by complete surprise-it was truly an aberration in a world accustomed to the modern wonders of medicine and quick fixes. The good news was that our faith in Christ calmed this worldly storm along with the fear and uncertainty raging in our hearts. There are no uncharted waters for Jesus! We need to continually reaffirm our relationship with Jesus trusting that he will calm the troubled waters of our lives.
PAUSE FOR REFLECTION AND PRAYER
The reality of a pandemic hit us like a tidal wave out of the peaceful blue ocean, but when we faithfully placed our trust in Jesus, he brought us safely back into tranquil waters.
Dear Jesus, “Through the storm you are Lord of All!”