13. THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF: REST

Thursday, March 14th

Read Mark 4:35-41 (copied below).

Follow Jesus…

Jesus sleeps in the stern as he and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee. When a storm begins to ravage the boat, the frightened disciples awaken him. Jesus tells the storm to “Be still!” and the storm immediately subsides. He then questions his friends, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

His act of calming the storm is quite remarkable, but his sleeping IN the storm is, too.
There is wind.
There are waves.
There is water in the boat.
And yet Jesus sleeps.

to be the best version of myself…

As I marvel about Jesus sleeping through the storm, I think about my own storms that keep me awake at night. I am initially frustrated by the worry, sadness, or pain that awaken me, then become increasingly frustrated when I cannot settle myself back to sleep. There have been a few times when I was able to fully entrust myself into God’s good care and then–finally–peacefully rest. But I find that I cannot just pray, “I am placing myself into your good care, God.” I have to desperately mean it, to be so outdone that I have no other choice.

I imagine that during his time in the wilderness, Jesus prayed a similar desperate prayer of surrender–entrusting his whole life to God, not just one sleepless night. Perhaps right from the beginning, he placed himself completely and preemptively into God’s good care, knowing that his life would be filled with storms. So, when this storm rocked the boat, he could sleep peacefully and securely. He had already surrendered and settled into God’s compassionate, ever-present care–with the trust that endures whatever life brings.

for the world.

God, Infinite Love,
May I surrender myself, my whole life, into your tender care every day–not just during storms or sleepless nights. As I entrust myself, my dear ones, and our world into your compassion and comfort, help me find the same peace that Jesus knew. Thank you for your all-embracing, ever-present love that is holding me, holding us, now and always. Keep guiding me to abide in your love, to live in your peace, and to serve as your calming presence for others.

Our reading for Sunday, March 17th is Matthew 25:35-40.

Photo by Karen, Bar Harbor, ME. Sailboats on a calmer sea.

~~~~~

Mark 4:35-41 (NRSVUE)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”