A Great Storm, A Great God, A Great Calm!

“[37] And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. [38] But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” [39] And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:37–39 ESV)

It would be easy to read through this passage and miss the use of the word “great” twice in these three verses. When I write, Grammarly often suggests changing the word “great” as it is overused. Here, I think it is important to see how the word is used in tandem to describe the need and answer and to show that God is indeed a Great God. 

A great windstorm arose. This storm was not your average storm on the Sea of Galilee. The boat is in danger of being swamped. Water is coming over the rail and filling the boat with water. 

To indicate how foul it is, in vs. 40, it says that they were afraid. Think about how significant it is that the disciples, some of whom earn their living by fishing on the Sea of Galilee, were afraid. The danger was real.  This storm was indeed great. 

Yet they had forgotten who was with them. The Lord Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat. They awoke Jesus again in terror. What did Jesus do? He spoke to the wind and water and ordered them to be still. What happened? 

Note well, there was a great calm. There is now a great calm where there had just been a great storm. See the power of God to take a great storm and make it a great calm in a matter of moments and just by speaking. But this is what our God can do! He can take the great problems of life and can make them into a great calm. 

We have seen the Lord do this recently at Erskine College and Seminary. The administration worked hard for over a year to address accreditation issues. In December, despite all the work and clear progress we had made in addressing the problems, we were denied reaccreditation. This decision meant that the institution would go on probation. 

However, in the middle of January, out of no where the accreditors changed their mind. They never do this. Now, we are fully reaccredited. Our joy in the Lord is great. We had been in a great storm and now have a great calm. 

I ask myself why the Lord allowed us to experience over a month of worry. The answer is easy. Had we gotten reaccreditation in December, we would have thought our work had done it. We would have praised the Lord, but too much of our thinking would have focused on what we had done. 

The Lord's choice of action brings glory to His name. We had done everything we could and failed. Yet the Lord works, and all is made right. He gets all the praise and reminds us that He is in charge of Erskine. 

When we face the great storms of life, we should remember who is always with us in the midst of them and can turn the great storm into a great calm.