Calming the Chaos

“And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39 (ESV)

Stormy seas.

Scripture often uses the sea to describe chaos. From the first chapter of Genesis—where the Spirit of God hovers over the deep waters—to the book of Revelation—where the sea is finally no more—the sea represents everything wild, untamed, and beyond human control.

It’s the image of a world in turmoil, of nations raging, and of hearts overwhelmed. And yet, throughout the Bible, only one power can calm raging seas: the Lord God Almighty.

Today, we live in a world that feels more like a stormy sea than solid ground. Waves of conflict, division, corruption, and despair crash over us endlessly. The headlines alone can leave us feeling seasick with anxiety.

But Scripture reminds us that no storm is greater than the One who walks on and over the waves.

The God Who Commands the Chaos

In Genesis 1:2-3, the world began in chaos, and “darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” While untamed, the world was not beyond the control of God.

He didn’t destroy the sea; He spoke into it. “Let there be light.” In an instant, order began to rise out of disorder. Creation itself is the story of God bringing peace where there was once confusion.

The Psalms echo that image again and again. Psalm 89:9 declares, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.” This isn’t poetic exaggeration—it’s a theological truth. God alone can subdue chaos. No government, philosophy, or human effort can tame the wild sea of our broken world. Only God can bring stillness.

Jesus: Lord of the Storm

The Gospel of Matthew gives us one of the most powerful demonstrations of this truth. In Matthew 14:22–33, Jesus sends His disciples ahead in a boat while He goes to pray. As night falls, a storm rises on the Sea of Galilee. The disciples row frantically, battered by waves they cannot escape. Then, in the middle of the night, Jesus comes walking toward them on the water.

Peter, always the bold one, replies, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.” (Matthew 14:28)

At first, that sounds like great faith—but look closely. The phrase “If it is You” (Greek: ei su ei) is used in several other places in Matthew—and each time, it reveals doubt, not belief.

• In Matthew 4:3, Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness: “If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
• In Matthew 26:63, the High Priest demands: “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”
• In Matthew 27:40, the mockers at the cross sneer: “If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Each time, “If it is You” are words of testing, not trusting. Peter’s statement carries the same echo. His faith is mixed with doubt, his courage shadowed by fear.

And isn’t that us? We believe—until the wind howls louder than our faith.

When We Sink, He Still Saves

Jesus doesn’t scold Peter for his hesitation. Instead, He simply says, “Come.” Peter steps out—and for a few moments, he does the impossible. But when his focus shifts from the Savior to the storm, he begins sinking. He cries out, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him.

That’s the Gospel in one, single gesture.

We step out with shaky faith, we look around at the chaos of our lives—the brokenness of the world, the uncertainty of the future—and we start to sink. But when we cry out, “Lord, save me,” He always reaches down.

Jesus didn’t calm the storm first. He rescued Peter first. The waves were still crashing, but salvation came before calm. And then, when they climbed into the boat together, “the wind ceased.” (Matthew 14:32)

When we invite Jesus into our chaos—when we let Him into the boat—the storm begins to still.

The Sea Still Rages, But It Will Never Win

Our world today is much like that dark, churning sea. Nations roar. People rage. Violence spreads.

Fear grows. The “sea” of human rebellion against God is surging—but it will not last forever. Revelation 21:1 gives a stunning image of eternity: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

That doesn’t mean there won’t be water in Heaven—it means chaos will finally end. Evil will have no tide left to turn. Doubt will have no waves left to pull us under.

Until then, Jesus still walks upon the sea. The same voice that calmed the waves in Galilee still speaks to our hearts: “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Choosing Faith Over Fear

Every day we have a choice—to fix our eyes on the storm or on the Savior. The world wants us to panic, to point fingers, to doubt. But faith says, “Even when I sink, I know who to call.”

The chaos around us may not stop right away. The waves may rise. The wind may scream. But when Jesus is near, they cannot win. He still rules the sea. He still reaches out to save. And He still commands the storms of our world—and our hearts—to be still.

So when the noise of the world drowns out peace, when the waves of fear start pulling you under, say what Peter said—but with faith instead of doubt: “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come.”

And when you step out, keep your eyes on the One who commands the winds and waves. The storm will not last—and His hand will never let go.

May God always guide your path.