You’ve maybe been in a violent storm or hurricane or seen images
of the devastation left behind after such a disaster and you think, that’s what
my life feels like right now! I’m going to be destroyed!
You have thoughts you never thought you could as a child of
GOD: Where is GOD? Does He really care? Why isn’t He helping me?
You feel singled out, persecuted and abandoned.
You’ve lost your spiritual focus and are making judgments
about your situation that can never be true for a child of GOD.
Unfortunately, life can be like that for us sometimes and when
it is fear can take over and our faith is challenged.
But take heart! You’re not the first, nor will you be the
last, to act in disbelief.
The following events recounted in Luke’s gospel offer some hope.
One day Jesus said to
his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a
boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But
soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and
they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting,
“Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind
and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he
asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed.
“Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the
wind and waves obey him!” Luke 8:22-25
In this biblical account JESUS gave a command, and He’s specific,
“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” He followed that command by getting into the boat
and then settled down for a nap. JESUS
was that confident in the outcome of that trip across the lake.
But then the storm comes and the disciples did what we do
when our own situations appear to be going off an expected course – they
panicked! “Master, Master, we’re going to
drown!” But we see that the disciples’ fears are unwarranted.
JESUS
awakens and first, He calms the storm to reassure them of their safety, then He rebukes
them for their lack of faith, “Where is
your faith?”
So like JESUS to offer care and protection before judgement
in the face of our lack of faith!
What can we learn today from this story?
Ask yourself, would you have acted differently from the
disciples? The honest answer is probably, no!
None of us can judge these men, but we are all blessed to be on this side of the story where we can learn and be encouraged by
their experience.
We too lose faith when we see our situations as the most
dismal it could be with no relief in sight. It may seem to us as well that JESUS
is both asleep and uncaring and we forget everything we know about GOD's goodness.
- We forget the promises of GOD to see us through our trouble and not abandon us: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you." Joshua 1:9
- We forget that we are the beloved of GOD: “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won't he also give us everything else?” Romans 8:32
- We forget that we can trust GOD with all our lives – past, present and future: But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
- We forget that the way we silence our fears is to bring them to CHRIST, lay them at His feet and leave them there. (Matthew 11:28-29).
“Who is this Man?”
In their moment of terror, the disciples called JESUS “Master.” JESUS is Master to all that claim His Name.
You too can call
on Him with a sincere and fervent faith and be assured that He is able to calm
the storms of your life. “When he gives a
command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Luke 8:25
You need not be afraid, no matter how stormy the seas of life
become, how dark the skies or how loud the winds may howl about you. JESUS will
honor your faith in Him. You will not perish if you wait in faith, no matter
how long the wait!
You will get to the other side of your stormy lake because
JESUS says that’s where you’ll are going – you and He together.
Meanwhile, believe JESUS just as He told Jairus to (Luke 8:40-53).
If you believe, you will have peace in your present circumstances and a living hope
for the future when you will look upon His face with awe and reverence and know the answer to – “Who is this Man?”
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy
GOD and Father, forgive us for all the times we’ve had little faith. Thank you
for reminding us that fear and anxiety are wasted emotions because YOU are
always with us in our trouble and will never fail us. Remind us also that our
lives reflect YOUR glory so when we remain steadfast and endure trials with
faith the world will see YOUR power, YOUR goodness and YOUR love through us. Thank
YOU for YOUR WORD that became flesh and is living among us and in us, JESUS CHRIST,
our LORD and MASTER. It is in HIS NAME we pray. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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