Whenever I hear this song, I think of my brother, Herbie (1954-2015). While I cannot honestly remember hearing him sing this, in my mind I can hear him singing it for I know his voice and the type of gospel songs he particularly enjoyed!
Written by Mary Ann Baker of Chicago in 1874, the words, based on Mark 4:36–41, focus on the story of the Savior and His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. A great storm was raging and the disciples, terrified, asked Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” In response, Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea, “Peace, be still”.
Oh, how many times do we come face-to-face with our own crisis and storms only to find ourselves shaking our fists at God and asking him, “Do you see this? Do you care that I’m hurting? Or that I could die right here?”
Mary Ann Baker had her own crisis of faith when she lost her brother after her parents had already died of the same disease. She stated that she became wickedly rebellious and decided that God did not care for her or those she loved. She later said, “it was the Master’s own voice that stilled the tempest in my unsanctified heart, and brought to it the calm of a deeper faith and a more perfect trust.”
Soon after, she was asked by Rev. H.R. Palmer to write a poem to go with a message he was preparing on “Christ Stilling the Tempest.” At this point, the words flowed easily for her since the Lord had calmed the tempest in her own soul and she was able to write words that have meaning for so many. Rev. Palmer was delighted with the result and wrote music for it which he then had published in a hymnbook.
Then, in 1881, this song received national attention in an unexpected way when President James Garfield was shot by a deranged gunman. As his wife struggled with the senselessness of it and the American people prayed for his recovery, this song was being sung over and over again by a shocked nation. It was then sung at Garfield’s memorial service in various locations.
My brother, Herbie, faced his own crisis when he was diagnosed with brain cancer and struggled for three years before losing this battle on March 30, 2015. At times I wished I had been a better sister and shared this song and similar hope with him during his decline. I have found that we face the most difficult farewells when it’s time to say good-bye to loved ones. We can be overwhelmed to the point where we cannot even sing or pray with them as grief overtakes and mingles with our deep love and memories. I am grateful for my sister-in-law, Anne, and others who were able to spend time with Herbie during those difficult days and share strength and hope with him.
I so understand how our author felt when her brother lay dying. Peace for me came the weekend of my own brother’s death; when I arrived home after receiving the news to find the first daffodils of the season had bloomed. Through them I felt God smiling and saying, “All is well.” That was six years ago today. Every year now, when my daffodils begin to bloom, I think of Herbie and all the good things we shared and am filled with peace and gratefulness.
May the message of this song help to still tempests in your own life as the peace of Christ provides comfort as only He can.
Master the Tempest Is Raging
Words by Mary Ann Baker Music by H.R. Palmer
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?
Refrain:
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.
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.
Sources: Internet: library.timelesstruths.org/music / Wordwise Hymns / Berean Bible Heritage Church/hymns