Ever since the terrorist attacks last week, I've been worried about my family's safety. I worry that once we actually go to war with these terrorists, how can I make sure my children are safe. I have a hard time believing that our enemies will only attack our military. They've already proved that they'll attack innocent civilians. The thought of my children being hurt in this mess has kept me awake lately.
But, I was reading the Gospel of Mark today, and I found something that was so comforting to me. It's the story of how Jesus calmed the storm. Here's the passage:
Mark 4:35-40
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
This story fits so perfectly into the events that have been happening during the last week. The United States was moving right along, comfortable in its power and safety, riding on calm seas. Suddenly, out of no where, we were attacked and thousands of people die. People are panicked; life will never be the same here in the US. But as Christians, we need to know that Jesus can calm this storm and any other that may come up because of the actions of these terrorists. We need to ask ourselves Jesus' question. Why are we so afraid? Where is our faith? Even if the US is struck again and this time our loved ones, or even ourselves, are killed, we need to have faith! Jesus will save us! He has already saved us when he died for us on the cross. There's no reason to be afraid. We don't need to worry about the safety of our family and children. We can be concerned, but there's no reason for worry. We have the faith! We have eternal life! What a wonderful, wonderful God he is!
But, I was reading the Gospel of Mark today, and I found something that was so comforting to me. It's the story of how Jesus calmed the storm. Here's the passage:
Mark 4:35-40
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
This story fits so perfectly into the events that have been happening during the last week. The United States was moving right along, comfortable in its power and safety, riding on calm seas. Suddenly, out of no where, we were attacked and thousands of people die. People are panicked; life will never be the same here in the US. But as Christians, we need to know that Jesus can calm this storm and any other that may come up because of the actions of these terrorists. We need to ask ourselves Jesus' question. Why are we so afraid? Where is our faith? Even if the US is struck again and this time our loved ones, or even ourselves, are killed, we need to have faith! Jesus will save us! He has already saved us when he died for us on the cross. There's no reason to be afraid. We don't need to worry about the safety of our family and children. We can be concerned, but there's no reason for worry. We have the faith! We have eternal life! What a wonderful, wonderful God he is!
