Calming the Storm 平静风暴

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Dexu Xia

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Oct 21, 2025, 1:18:14 PM10/21/25

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Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? Mark 4:40

Today's Scripture Mark 4:35-41

Today's Insights The story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41 that demonstrate Christ’s power. In stilling the sea, He demonstrates His power over the chaos of nature. The disciples ask, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (4:38). Jesus’ calming of the storm is a concession to their doubt (v. 40). But the next three miracles show that Christ does, indeed, care for the plight of the hurting, the desperate, and the grieving. He demonstrates His authority over demons (5:1-20), and over death itself (vv. 35-43). He expends His power not to gain influence or fame but to serve those who are suffering. Jesus’ miracles point to a future where, one day, fear and pain will completely disappear. When we face difficulties and trials today, we can trust His same power and presence to help us.

Today's Devotional My three-year-old niece is beginning to understand that she can trust Jesus in any situation. One night as she prayed before bedtime during a thunderstorm, she pressed her hands together, closed her eyes, and said, “Dear Jesus, I know You’re here with us. I know You love us. And I know that the storm will stop when You tell it to stop.”

I suspect she had recently heard the story of Jesus and the disciples as they crossed the Sea of Galilee. It’s the one where Jesus fell asleep in the back of the boat just before a squall nearly capsized the vessel. The disciples woke Him and said, “Don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus didn’t speak to them but instead addressed the natural world: “Quiet! Be still!” (Mark 4:38-39). Immediately the water stopped splashing into the boat. The howling wind subsided. There in the silence, Jesus looked at His followers and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40). I imagine their wide eyes staring back at Him as water coursed down their faces and dripped from their beards.

What if we could live today with the awe the disciples felt in that moment? What if we could view every concern with a fresh awareness of Jesus’ authority and power? Maybe then our childlike faith would chase away our fear. Maybe then we would believe that each storm we face is at His mercy.

Reflect & Pray

What are the barriers to faith in your life? How can you recapture a sense of wonder of Jesus? Dear Jesus, please increase my faith as I meditate on Your power and presence.

By Jennifer Banson Schuldt

“你们为什么胆怯？你们还没有信心吗？”(马可福音 4:40 )

今日经文：马可福音 4章35-41 节

今日洞见：在马可福音 4章35-41节中耶稣平静风暴的故事彰显了基督的大能。平静大海，彰显了祂胜过自然界混乱的能力。门徒问道：“我们要丧命了，你不顾吗？”（4:38）。耶稣以平静风暴来回应门徒的疑虑（40 节）。而且，接下来的三个神迹表明，基督确实关心那些受伤、绝望和悲伤之人的困境。祂彰显了祂胜过污鬼（5:1-20）和死亡（35-43 节）的权柄。祂运用祂的能力，不是为了获得影响力或名望，而是为了服侍那些正在受苦的人。耶稣的神迹指向一个未来，就是有一天恐惧和痛苦将彻底消失。今天，当我们面临困难和考验时，我们可以信靠祂以同样的大能和同在来帮助我们。

今日灵修我三岁的侄女开始明白，她在任何情况下都可以信靠耶稣。一天晚上，雷雨交加，她临睡前祷告时，双手合十，闭上眼睛，说道：“亲爱的耶稣，我知道祢与我们同在。我知道祢爱我们。我知道，祢吩咐风暴停止，风暴就会停止。” 我想她最近一定听过耶稣和门徒渡过加利利海的故事。故事讲的是耶稣在船尾睡着了，就在一场狂风几乎将船掀翻之前。门徒叫醒祂，说：“难道你们不怕我们淹死吗？”耶稣没有对他们说话，而是对着自然界说：“住了吧！静了吧！”（马可福音 4:38-39 ）。海水立刻止住了，呼啸的风也平息了。一片寂静中，耶稣看着祂的门徒，说道：“你们为什么胆怯？你们还没有信心吗？”（40节）我想象着他们睁大双眼，看着祂，水顺着他们的脸颊流淌，从他们的胡须上滴落。如果我们今天也能活在门徒当时的敬畏之中，那该有多好？如果我们能以全新的视角看待耶稣的权柄和大能，那该有多好？或许那时，我们孩童般的信心就能驱散恐惧。或许那时，我们就会相信，我们所面对的每一次风暴都在祂的怜悯之下。

反思与祷告你生活中信心的障碍是什么？你如何重新获得对耶稣的敬畏之心？亲爱的耶稣，当我默想祢的大能和同在时，请加添我的信心。