Waves are active on oceans, lakes and rivers.  They are caused by the wind as it blows across the surface of the water.  The size of the wave is determined by three factors:  wind speed, distance of open water that the wind has blown over and the length of time the wind has blown over a given area.  The smaller waves are fun to jump into and allow the power to carry you for a distance.  The larger waves can be fun too for those who enjoy surfing, seeking to ride the wave for as long as they can.  But waves can be dangerous.  The most dangerous is probably a tsunami.  “A tsunami is a series of ocean waves caused by earthquakes that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore.” (National Geographic definition)  This type of wave does not happen often but when it does, it causes devastating damage and loss of life.  As we live our lives it can feel like a series of waves.  Some are small problems and some are tsunami sized problems.  What do we need to know?  What do we need to remember?

There was a time on the Sea of Galilee when the disciples and Jesus were in a boat being tossed by the waves.

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’  And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.   And other boats were with him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.  And the woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’  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.  He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid?  Have you still no faith?’”  Mark 4:35-40

The disciples were afraid of the storm which was causing wave after wave to hit their boat.  The boat was filling with water.  They had no peace within them as the boat was tossed back and forth.  Jesus, on the other hand, was asleep in the stern.  The tossing was not keeping him awake or causing him concern.  Because of their fear, they woke up Jesus with a question about his care of them.  There was no remembrance of how much Jesus had shown love to them on many other occasions.  Their focus was on the waves and not on whom Jesus had shown Himself to be.  Jesus responded in love and kindness and brought about great calm with only His words.  He did this because He loved his disciples.

As we live our lives we encounter many trials and temptations along with way.  Sometimes we can find ourselves in a place like the disciples where one thing after another after another hits us.  We can feel like the waves of the ocean are hitting us so rapidly and hard that we can’t stand. It can feel like we’re drowning in the undertow of the water.  It can be hard to stay afloat at times.  But the Jesus who was in the boat with the disciples is the same Jesus with us.  He cares about every wave that hits us.  He cares about our pain and sorrow as we are hit.  He cares about our disappointments in the number of waves.  He cares about our decisions concerning each wave we face.  The bottom line is…He cares!  He calls us to be still and trust as the waves seem overtake us.  He calls us to peace in the midst of the wave that only He can give.

It’s true Jesus took the waves away for the disciples.  He doesn’t always work that way.  Sometimes He removes the waves but other times we are called to ride those waves until they are no more.  As we ride the waves, Jesus rides them with us.  He holds our hand and wants us to find our rest in His constant presence with us.  We also need to remember that our brothers and sisters in Christ are here to ride the waves with us.  We are all in this together.  We must pray for each another and walk alongside each another at all times in this life.  We are not alone.

Whether it’s a tsunami or one small wave after another we are facing, Jesus and His body are here to help us.  Remember as a Follower of Christ, Jesus is in your boat!  Therefore even in the waves you are safe in His presence.