A few months back, I signed myself up for Spotify Premium. I tend to buy at least one musical album a month, and by forgoing purchasing the actual album and choosing to stream the music instead, I save money and precious storage space on my two-generations old iPhone.

One album I listen to repeatedly is Hillsong Worship’s ‘Let There Be Light’. It’s beautiful, ethereal and evokes my soul to praise God. At the end of the album, Brian Houston, Hillsong Church’s main pastor, speaks on the word ‘behold’. Most of the time I flip back to the beginning of the album or start streaming some other tunes. But on one particular instance, I listened all the way through the message. He begins by declaring, “I love the word behold. You know it actually means, ‘Wow‘? Behold means stand in awe and be amazed.”

The Bible demonstrates a poignant ‘behold’ moment in Matthew verses 23-27:

“And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

In the middle of the Sea of Galilee, a small fisherman’s boat is being tossed back and forth by the waves. BEHOLD, we are told. BEHOLD. Matthew puts us on high alert, here comes a ‘stand in awe and be amazed’ moment. We read it and we wonder what it would have been like to see, experience,  and bear witness to a moment so powerful, so divine. We also recognize this same God is at work within us.

It’s almost like Matthew wanted to say, “Wait for this guys and girls! Be amazed! This boat is filled with disciples of Jesus, and a good handful of them are professional fisherman. And they are freaking out. The waves are lashing the boat, filling it with water. And sure enough, there is Jesus-peacefully slumbering.” The poor disciples act out of desperation and wake up Jesus. He scolds them (knowing their professional background and to whom they belong) and then promptly calms the winds and the sea. The disciples are in awe and wonder-struck, thinking,”Who is this man who can calm the waves and calm the fear in our hearts?”

How often have I forgotten to stand in wonder and behold the power and might of our God? I am the first one to admit how quickly I join the ranks of the fearful disciples when my life is filled with unknowns. I neglect to place my trust in the One who calms the seas, and who calms my fears and anxieties. Thankfully, God knows these insecurities and goes about his work anyway. Because He is God, and He is good.

We are currently entering into the last couple weeks of the Lenten season. As we near Easter, let us be challenged to behold the One who was born, lived and loved on this earth, experienced death by crucifixion, and who rose again! Let us be amazed at the power and might of God. Let us set aside some time to stop in our tracks, be still, and allow ourselves to be filled with wonderment at God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Readers, This month our theme is wonder and we invite you to tell us what has made you stop and behold in the comments. We would love to hear from you. Thanks for reading!

Sarah Dohman is a nurse, kayak enthusiast, coffee addict, microbrew lover, globe trotter, adorer of friends and family. She has a weakness for donuts, runs in 5k races, and cannot get enough tea and books. She loves writing more than talking (and she talks a lot), can be seen at Target frequently, and is loving life in her thirties. She believes God has called her to this space to bring joy and encouragement through words to friends and family, near and far. You can find more from Sarah at her blog or on Twitter.