In my sixty-two years of life, I have experienced many physical, mental, and spiritual tempests. I have witnessed tempests played out in the streets, at schools and universities, and through wars fought around the world. But I have never witnessed them come together in such a perfect storm as what I am witnessing today. I hold to my faith and cling to my testimony as I cry, “Master, the Tempest is Raging,” and pray to hear His words, “Peace, be still.”
I joined my voice in prayer with millions across the globe, praying for an end to this madness. I heeded a prophet’s call when Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson called for a worldwide fast on April 10, Good Friday, “that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.” As I did, I pled for miracles that the world could see. I wanted to awaken on April 11 to the news that the things we fasted and prayed for had come to fruition, that life had been restored to what we knew before anyone had ever heard of COVID-19. But it didn’t happen that way. The tempest raged on and seems to have gained strength since the day of the worldwide fast.
Pope Francis joined with Muslim leaders in calling for a world day of prayer to end the coronavirus. He called on “the believers of all the religions to unite together spiritually on May 14 in a day of prayer and fasting, to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic.” Again, I joined brothers and sisters across the world as we heeded the call. Again, I hoped to awaken on May 15 to a miracle of biblical proportions. And still, the tempest raged on.
This morning, I awoke with the words of the hymn, “Master, the Tempest is Raging” playing in my mind. I listened to several versions of this powerful hymn sung by a variety of choirs. Written by Mary Ann Baker in 1874, the hymn focuses on the story of the Savior Jesus Christ and His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilea. During the crossing, the disciples cried out for Him to still the angry sea, and when he raised his arms and commanded, “Peace, be still,” the sea calmed.
Baker’s life was filled with turbulence. Her parents died of tuberculosis and left her and her sister and brother orphans living in Chicago. Later, her brother was stricken with the same illness, and, after his sisters gathered what little money they had to send him to Florida for treatment, he passed away a few weeks later. The sisters were unable to travel to Florida for his funeral or to have his body sent back to Chicago.
Mary Ann later explained that she became rebellious, believing God didn’t care for her. “But the Master’s own voice stilled the tempest in my unsanctified heart, and brought it to the calm of a deeper faith and a more perfect trust.”I yearn for the day the Master will raise his hands and command the earth and its inhabitants with the words, “Peace, be still.”
I know that day will come, but I don’t know when. So, I seek for peace in my soul. I cannot control the violence, the corruption, the chaos, the fear, the anxiety playing out across cities, counties, states, and nations. My puny arms aren’t strong enough to lift the world from its ills. But my knees are sturdy enough to kneel, my voice is strong enough to pray, and my faith is steady enough to believe He will send peace to my soul in the midst of this storm.
For those who struggle to find peace amidst the storm, remember that Christ said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
The storms of the world will end, but in the meantime, may we all find the peace within our hearts that the Master promised.
Master, the Tempest Is Raging (Lyrics)
Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?
(Chorus)
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.
Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! Dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!
(Chorus)
Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.
I’m so glad Mary Ann Baker shared the story of writing this beautiful hymn. Someone, someday, will be glad you wrote your stories. Contact me today and let me help you get started.