Midweek Message: Calming the Storm

Mark 4:38        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?" 

I’ve only had one anxiety attack in my life, and I truly hope I never experience another one. It happened years ago, shortly after my family and I moved into our new home in Knoxville. All at once, the reality hit me: we had taken on a thirty-year mortgage in a new city, in a new country, with no clear guarantees about what the future would hold.

I also carried a deep concern for my wife and two daughters. They had left so much behind to come to America with me—their family, friends, cousins, and familiar support systems. They needed me to be present with them, but I had become so absorbed in my work that I wasn’t giving them the care and reassurance they deserved. Instead of leaning into faith together, we found ourselves feeling afraid, unsettled, and even resentful. That strain continued for several weeks, until one day it finally overwhelmed me.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. My heart was racing, my thoughts were spinning, and for a moment I honestly thought I might be dying. It only lasted about a minute, but it felt much longer. When it passed, I was pale, shaken, and covered in cold perspiration. It was a frightening experience—one I would not wish on anyone.

As I look back now, I can see that I was trying to carry too much on my own. I was relying on my own strength instead of turning to Jesus for the support, peace, and perspective I needed. Christ had brought us across the Atlantic for reasons that are still unfolding in each of our lives. The storms I felt inside were real, but they were not beyond His reach. Jesus was right there in the middle of them—ready, willing, and able to quiet my fears and calm the waves within me. It took time for me to see that, but I understand it more clearly now: Christ’s presence is real, and what matters most is that He is with us.

Perhaps you are going through a storm of your own right now. Maybe life feels heavy, your problems feel overwhelming, or anxiety is rising higher than you expected. If so, please know this: you are not alone. Christ is with you in the middle of your worries, your questions, and your cares. You can bring them to Him. He is able to calm the storm, and He invites you to trust Him one wave at a time.

Question for personal reflection

What fears, worries, or heavy burdens am I carrying right now? How might I invite Jesus into the middle of them today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we need Your steady and powerful presence in our lives. When we feel afraid, anxious, or overwhelmed, help us remember that we do not have to face our storms alone. Be our strength when we are weak, lift us up when we stumble, and guide us with Your peace. Calm the storms within us and around us, helping us trust You one step at a time. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Pastor John

If you enjoyed this devotion, you can read more in John's devotional e-books like "The Light of Love" which has forty-two devotions inspired by the Gospel of John. You can find the book at this link: 

"The Light of Love."

August 6 devotion - Dealing with Anxiety

Psalm 139:23  Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

            Anxiety is part of being human. We all experience anxious moments in our lives; we all go through times of intense worry and deep concern. Our anxiety may be about our health, our family, our work, or our resources. We may constantly worry about what people think or how we appear, who we are or what we do. We may even perhaps be deeply concerned about our community, our nation, and even our world. No matter who we are, we will experience anxiety at some point; no matter what we accomplish, we will have worrying times.

            Psalm 139 is one of the most intimate psalms ever written. The author expresses his intense relationship with God, which he believes began even before he was born. The intimacy of God is almost claustrophobic; there is not one area of the psalmist’s life that God doesn’t fully know or completely understand. This comforts the writer because he deeply relies upon God to help him throughout his entire life. God has always been there for the psalmist; his belief in God is personally defined by the deep abiding presence of God all through his days.

            If, as I have stated before, anxiety is a part of being human, then so is our spiritual capacity to pray to God. Over 90% of the world’s population pray to a Higher Being, so in the midst of the world’s difficulties and crises, a lot of praying must continually be going on.

            As Christians, we focus our faith on Jesus Christ and look to His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through our anxious times and troubling moments. We rely upon God in much the same way as the ancient psalmist, but we experience our deep intimacy with God through our Savior’s grace and love. We turn to Christ to seek His wisdom and guidance. If we worry too much, then we are praying too little. If we are anxious too long, then we are making Jesus too small. The solution has always been the same: to let Christ search our hearts and bring peace to our anxious thoughts.

Questions for personal reflection

Am I presently anxious about some issue or personal crisis? Am I willing to really pray to Jesus about it?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You know us completely and understand our present circumstances. You see the critical times that we experience and offer us Your grace and guidance to persevere with our problems and overcome our issues. Help us to set aside some real prayer time to be intimate with You, to express our concerns, seek Your solutions, and follow Your ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s bulletin cover drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm.

Church Devotion - Shepherdless - Matthew 9:36

Matthew 9:36                         When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (NIV)

            Last Sunday, I commenced teaching a 4-week class about the Theological Declaration of Barmen. The declaration was written in 1934 and signed by a number of Christian pastors who were deeply concerned about the evangelical church in Germany. A wave of national populism enabled Hitler to rise to power and, unfortunately, most church members allied themselves with his beliefs. The Church Youth movement with about 700,000 children was handed over to the control of the Nazis; readings from the Old Testament were banned from public worship, and pastors had to register their loyalty to Hitler’s government.

            The people were harassed and helpless, anxious about the economy, and resentful of other European nations. They believed that Hitler could restore their prestige and strength, so most of the evangelical church embraced nationalism. They were like sheep without a shepherd, who sadly ended up welcoming and inviting a ravenous wolf into the fold.

            From today’s passage of scripture, we read about the compassion Christ had for His own people. They were harassed and helpless, oppressed and lost. They didn’t know who to turn to in order to be restored. Jesus came among them to help and heal them, to re-guide and restore them to God. Despite this, Jesus still ended up being crucified by the same people that He had come to save. It seems that when good people do not know what to do or say, evil abounds and wickedness triumphs.

            Perhaps you are feeling anxious or lost. Maybe your hopes and dreams have suffered setbacks and you don’t know what to do. Jesus understands what you are feeling; turn to Him and allow Christ to embrace you, guide you, and restore you. He is the Shepherd we all need; He is the Only Savior of all our lives.

Point to ponder

What makes me most anxious today? Am I willing to let Christ shepherd me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we live in uncertain times and experience some anxious moments. We sometimes feel lost and powerless. Encourage us to turn to You for help and guidance, hope and assurance. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Lamb of God.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Lamb.