Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.

Sometimes when we are in the midst of a trial of our faith, we ask God why he doesn’t care for us anymore. We get so caught up in anxiety, worry, or doubt that we forget God is with us in the storm. The only difference is He recognizes the storm is temporary, while we think it will be our end. So we cry out to God and He answers us in His own way and at the time of His own choosing. As long as we don’t lose faith in Him, then eventually He says to our troubles, “Quiet! Be Still!” and they cease. Unfortunately, doubts creep in and sometimes we become impatient or fearful and jump ship. Or we think we can ride out the storm ourselves, but we can’t. Only God can save us from the storms of anxiety, worry, and doubt. We just have to learn how to be patient and mild, so that we can wait for Jesus to calm the storms within our hearts and lives.

How often do we wonder why God has forsaken us? Are we impatient with God when we are suffering trials? How can we learn the patience and mildness we need in order to let God work in our lives in His time and not ours?

O Lord, quiet the storms within our hearts.

Amen.