Calming the Storm | Audio Reading | Our Daily Bread Devotional | October 21, 2025 - Our Daily Bread Podcast

Summary3 min read

Episode Overview:

Title: Calming the Storm | Audio Reading | Our Daily Bread Devotional | October 21, 2025
Host: Our Daily Bread Ministries
Theme:
This devotional episode focuses on Mark 4:35-41, the biblical story of Jesus calming the storm, and explores how believers can experience peace and deeper faith during life’s storms. The reading encourages listeners to trust Jesus with childlike faith, even amid fear and uncertainty.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Scripture Foundation

Reading: Mark 4:35-41 (00:22 – 01:33)
The passage describes Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee when a violent storm arises. Jesus, asleep on a cushion, is awakened by the terrified disciples who fear for their lives. He rebukes the wind and waves, commanding, "Quiet, be still," and the storm ceases.

"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
— Jesus (00:00 & 01:27, Mark 4:40)

2. Childlike Faith in Practice

Illustration of Trust: The devotional recounts a story where the writer’s three-year-old niece prays calmly during a thunderstorm, expressing trust that Jesus is present and will stop the storm (01:37 – 01:58).

"Dear Jesus, I know you’re here with us. I know you love us and I know that that storm will stop when you tell it to stop."
— Writer’s niece (01:43)
Connection to Scripture: This period of trust reflects how the disciples failed to recognize Jesus’s authority during chaos, contrasting with the unfiltered faith of a child.

3. Application for Listeners

Living with Awe and Trust:
The devotional encourages listeners to recapture the awe the disciples felt and to see their fears through the lens of Jesus's power (02:13 – 02:35).

“What if we could live today with the awe the disciples felt in that moment? What if we could view every concern with a fresh awareness of Jesus’ authority and power? Maybe then our childlike faith would chase away our fear.”
— Narrator (02:22)
Jesus's Sovereignty:
Every storm, literal or metaphorical, is subject to Jesus's command.

4. Prayer for Faith and Presence

A closing prayer asks for trust equal to that of a child and for a greater awareness of Jesus’s presence and authority amid fears (02:36 – 03:16).

“Jesus, help us face our storms with the same trust a child has, believing you are right here with us and that even the wind and waves listen to your voice.”
— Narrator (02:39)

5. Reflective Questions

The episode concludes with prompts for personal meditation (03:31 – 03:45):
- “What are the barriers to faith in your life?”
- “How can you recapture a sense of wonder of Jesus?”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Mark 4:40:

"Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
— Jesus (00:00, 01:27)
On Childlike Faith:

"Maybe then our childlike faith would chase away our fear."
— Narrator (02:32)
On Presence in the Storm:

"Believing you are right here with us and that even the wind and waves listen to your voice."
— Prayer (02:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00: Opening quote from Mark 4:40
00:22 – 01:33: Full reading of Mark 4:35-41 — Jesus calms the storm
01:37 – 01:58: Personal story of childlike faith during a thunderstorm
02:13 – 02:35: Encouragement to view fears through Jesus’s authority
02:36 – 03:16: Closing prayer for trust and divine awareness
03:31 – 03:45: Reflective questions for listeners

Final Takeaways

The episode invites listeners to approach life's storms with faith, remembering Jesus's authority over even the most chaotic situations.
It draws a compelling comparison between the disciples’ fear and a child’s simple, trusting prayer, challenging adults to reclaim that perspective.
Reflection is encouraged on removing barriers to faith and restoring a sense of wonder at Jesus’s presence and power.

This devotional reading provides a gentle, hope-filled reminder to trust in God's sovereignty, encouraging listeners to see beyond their fears and find peace in His presence.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:01]
A
Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no Faith? Mark, chapter four, verse 40.
[00:09]
B
Welcome to this daily encouragement from our daily bread. Calming the Storm was written by Jennifer Benson Schulte and read by Rochelle traub.
[00:22]
A
Mark, chapter 4, verses 35 through 41. That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, let us go over to the other side. Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along. Just as he was in the boat, there were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, teaching teacher, don't you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, quiet, be still. Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him. Calming the Storm written by Jennifer Benson Schultz. My three year old niece is beginning to understand that she can trust Jesus in any situation. One night as she prayed before bedtime during a thunderstorm, she pressed her hands together, closed her eyes and said, dear Jesus, I know you're here with us. I. I know you love us and I know that that storm will stop when you tell it to stop. I suspect she had recently heard this story in Mark chapter four of Jesus and the disciples as they crossed the Sea of Galilee. It's the one where Jesus fell asleep in the back of the boat just before a squall nearly capsized the vessel. The disciples woke him and said, don't you care if we drown? Jesus didn't speak to them, but instead addressed the natural world. Quiet. Be still. Immediately the water stopped splashing into the boat. The howling wind subsided. There in the silence, Jesus looked at his followers and said, why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? I imagine their wide eyes staring back at him as water coursed down their faces and dripped from their beards. What if we could live today with the awe the disciples felt in that moment? What if we could view every concern with a fresh awareness of Jesus authority and power? Maybe then our childlike faith would chase away our fear. Maybe then we would believe that each storm we face is at his mercy. Lets pray. Jesus, help us face our storms with the same trust a child has, believing you are right here with us and that even the wind and waves listen to your voice. Teach us to see you more clearly. Than our fears. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
[03:32]
B
As you go about your day, reflect on these what are the barriers to faith in your life? How can you recapture a sense of wonder of Jesus?
[03:57]
C
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