Jesus Calms the Storm

Keith and Kristen Getty wrote this song, describing it as a ‘children’s hymn’. It’s sung by their four daughters. It may be for children, but it’s certainly not childish. The Jesus, the man with power over wind and waves, calming the storm, is for us all.

When my heart is filled with fear
Like a stormy sky
Jesus says “be not afraid”
He is at my side

There’s a rock where I can go
Keeps me safe and this I know
Deep within my troubled soul
Jesus calms the storm

When my thoughts are tossed and turned
Like a raging sea
I will listen to His voice
He will comfort me

When I feel the shame of sin
Like a crashing wave
My Redeemer rescues me
By His grace I’m saved

He who rules the wind and waves
Soon will come again
Oh take courage little heart
Every storm will end

In Mark’s account of the narrative, after Jesus has calmed the storm He gets out of the boat and encounters Legion, a troubled, demon-possessed man living alone in a cemetery. Jesus cares and heals his significant mental and spiritual problems. Jesus calms the storm.

This is an intensely personal song, reassuring me that the Jesus who dealt with the storm on the lake can deal with my fears, sadnesses, despair – all of those parts of my life that seem to be out of control – certainly out of my control. In particular he deals with the guilt and shame of past mistakes and repeated failures. Jesus calms the storm.

It isn’t just that the storm stops, but it’s replaced by calm. Fear is replaced by courage, despair becomes hope, the broken is made whole, chaos becomes peace, insecure uncertainty changes to safe confidence. Jesus calms the storm.

The song closes with the voices of Joni Tada, who has served God from a wheelchair for over fifty years, and six year old Tahlia;  Jesus’ message of peace comes to all of us. The final verse reminds us that there will come a time when every storm will end. We’re not there yet. In the meantime Jesus calms the storm.