No one ever said that life would always be blue skies and sunshine. Nor, did they ever say that it would be easy. Even Jesus and his disciples ran into a bad patch every now and then.
Take for example, Mark 4:35-41. Jesus had just spent the day, sitting on a pillow in a boat, under the hot sun; teaching to a large crowd that was gathered on the seashore. After he had finished teaching, an exhausted Jesus and His disciples set sail across the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35-36); where they'd hoped to get away from the crowd, and relax for just a bit on the other side.
I can only imagine how tired Jesus must have been. The sun was starting to set, a cool, gentle sea breeze was wafting over his face. I think, sitting at the stern of the ship, He got himself comfortably situated on the pillow, closed his eyes, and let the gentle rocking of the boat do the rest. Maybe, some of the disciples were singing a soft, relaxing chantey as they sailed on. Yes, it was a very busy day, but a satisfying one!
But, it wasn't long before this placid scene was interrupted. Suddenly, a violent windstorm arose, beating waves into the boat (Mark 4:37). So much so, that the boat began to fill with water, and was in real danger of sinking to the bottom. They were in serious trouble!
The disciples fought to keep the boat steady in the wild, pitching sea. They shouted orders to one another in desperation as the boat was being tossed about like a child's toy in the angry, foaming water. The situation looked pretty grim, indeed. And remember, Jesus was sound asleep during all of this!
At some point, someone suggested that it might be a good time to wake Jesus up. So, His disciples, fearing for their lives decided to wake him up. Jesus was jostled awake to this fearful question, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4: 38) At this point, aware of what was happening, Jesus slowly rose, and stood up; and in a majestic and authoritative way, said, "Quiet! Be still!" He admonished the wind, and the churning water (Mark 4:39).
Immediately, the wind stopped, and the sea became still. Jesus, having quieted the storm, now turned His attention to the disciples. He asks them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40) But, they were still pretty shaken up from the storm. On top of that, they were in awe of what they had just seen!
Can't you just see them? Standing there drenched to the bone, shivering in the cold night sea air, their mouths gaping open; they just had the scare of their lives; and then they turn to each other and ask, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41)
I am reminded of what Anne Graham Lotz said. She said, "When the storms of life come, if they come to me personally, to my family or to the world, I want to be strong enough to stand and be a strength to somebody else, be shelter for somebody else." Isn't that true? When we are hit with the storms of life, wouldn't it be awesome for Jesus to be there, to calm that tempest, and be our shelter?
As I said at the outset, no one is exempt from the storms of life. We face storms because we are humans. After all, being Jesus' disciples didn't protect them from storms. We live in a world where there are many storms, both literal and figurative. And, Jesus doesn't promise anyone exemption from the normal storms of life!
If we find ourselves in the midst of storms, and we will; we can take heart; because Jesus helps us deal with them. How? He helps us through faith, through His word, through prayer, and through His sacrifice.
I'd like to end today's message by reiterating this. Everyone will face one, or more storms in his, or her life! It's unavoidable. How are you going to handle them? Are you going to cry out like the disciples who were weak in faith ("we are perishing!")? Or, are you going to weather the storms with confident faith, and peaceful composure?
Scripture: Psalm 107:29; Nahum 1:7; Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:17; Genesis 9:12; Psalm 91:1-16
Prayer: Dear Lord, speak for me where I cannot speak, fight for me where I cannot fight. Let the miraculous happen now! So all may see, The Lord I serve doesn't sleep or slumber. He is ever faithful and worthy to receive praise and worship! Amen
May God always bless you!
Trisha
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