I don’t like storms. Trials. Problems. None of us do.
Yet each day we are faced with circumstances that are beyond us. Jesus said that “each day has enough trouble of its own.”
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they get into a boat and set out. Jesus fell asleep. A storm came. The storm was so ferocious that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
Even though the disciples were experienced fishermen, they were scared.
Mark’s version of this story says that the disciples woke Jesus up and said, “Master, don’t you care if we drown?”
Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsides and all is calm. He turns around to the men and says, “Where is your faith?”
Are you going through a storm today? Know this:
Sometimes Jesus leads us into a storm. It was Jesus who said, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” Problems and trials are allowed in our lives to help us to grow, to teach us to depend upon God and to help us keep God central in our lives.
Jesus does care about what you are going through. While it may seem like the Master is asleep and that God doesn’t care – he does. He’s very aware of what you are going through today.
A retired United Methodist pastor by the name of Jones lived through Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.
His daughter had been begging him to drive to Atlanta and stay with her in the storm's aftermath. There was only one problem: He didn't have any money. He had money in the bank, but it wasn't open. They were penniless. He couldn't get to Atlanta. He had no place to go.
When the hurricane came, he and his wife left their home and went to a shelter. After the storm had passed, they were allowed back into the city to grab a few belongings. When they entered the house, the water was still knee high, but Pastor Jones was determined to see what he could salvage.
As he went into his flooded house, he saw several framed family photos floating in the water. He really didn't see anything else to save, so he grabbed the pictures and left. Back at the shelter, he took the photos out of their frames so they could dry out. When he removed his father's picture, money fell out of the frame. He couldn't believe his find as he counted out $366. Even more astounding was the fact that his father had died in 1942.
Pastor Jones was only 12 years old at the time. He had no idea that the money was in the frame. He doesn't know how it got there or when it was put there, but it was enough to pay for him and his wife to make their way to Atlanta.
Jesus can calm your storm. Come to him today. Trust in Him. Depend upon Him. Relax in His presence. God is in control.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This is SO true! We all go through so many things, but I think that even though it's hard, we need to learn from it and be there to help encourage others through their trials as well. It's hard to put all trust in him when you're feeling so low, but I've come to realize that's when you grow the closest to God. When the trial is over, hold onto those things you've learned. I'm still struggling with that. I've been through a lot, thought I'd learned, then after making it through the trial, go back to where I was before. Mostly my example would be learning how to handle money. I had learned how much I can go without when I have nothing, but then when I have something I go back to being addicted to shopping, or spending, whatever. I'm learning this time around though!
What I love about the story of Peter getting out of the boat is that he is the only one who received the "experience." So many Christian want to see the manifestations of the Spirit and that "one experience," however, many are not willing to get out of the boat. I don't want to miss out on what God has for me because I'm still sitting in the boat scared to death of what is happening and was is going to happen. I want to be just like Peter, willing to experience everything (good and bad) because I know Jesus is right next to me at all times. I have learned through storms to just "let it happen" because the sooner it happens, the sooner it will be over. There are times in my life when I knew the storms would only get worse. For a time I pray let it be gone, removed, and then there are times the Lord has helped me just say “bring it on.” Why, because I know he has more in store for me then what I could ever imagine because he wants me to walk through certain difficulties. And the sooner it begins, I pray the sooner it will end (selfish motive too I guess). I obviously am a slow learner because the storms in my life never seem to dissipate, they subside for awhile, but never for good. One day…praise the Lord for that! And I, of course, have had my times of wishing things were different opposed to just letting go and letting God. But He has taught me to remain faithful, especially when times are good because it’s the only way I can stand firm in Him when the storms hit again. Life is not perfect, but I have a perfect God who walks with me each and every day, each and every step. He gives me joy always!
Post a Comment