One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Luke 8:22-25

Emergencies rarely happen at a good time, right? Just before leaving home over the weekend, Patrina noticed a very small puddle of water near our twelve-year-old refrigerator. Where is the water coming from? What do we do?

In the scenario above, Jesus’ disciples, a group made up of at least some experienced fishermen, ran into a windstorm while sailing from one side of Galilee to the other. No doubt they were familiar with the waters and so they recognized the storm and the danger they were facing.

I imagine they tried to get the boat out of danger and did everything they could on their own before waking Jesus, but they did and in their moment of despair, they turned to Christ.

How many times do we attempt to identify the problem and create a solution on our own and fail to turn to the One who “commands even winds and water, and they obey?”

Emergencies and needs are all around us. This afternoon I met a new neighbor who mentioned that a mutual friend is having complications with a routine surgery. Another friend was just released from the hospital following another surgery. We do our best, but the real key here for the Christian is to be dependent on Christ who certainly promised to always be with us.