Jesus Calms the Storm

One evening, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." They got into a boat. As they sailed, Jesus lay down in the stern of the boat and fell asleep. Suddenly, a furious storm came. The waves crashed over the boat, filling it with water. The experienced fishermen among the disciples were terrified. They shook Jesus awake: "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Jesus woke up. He looked at the howling wind and the crashing waves. Then He spoke: "Quiet! Be still!" And the wind died. The waves became completely calm. An immediate, perfect stillness fell over the water. The disciples were stunned. They said to each other in hushed voices, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

Jesus looked at His disciples and asked, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" The same One who created the winds and the seas can calm them with a single word. The Coptic Church teaches us to call on Jesus in every storm of life — illness, fear, loss, confusion. He is in the boat with us. He will speak peace to our storms. Trust Him, even when He seems to be sleeping.