by David Brenneman
Mark 4:35-41 NASB "On that day, when evening came, He *said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there *arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and *said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”"
Wow March sure seems like a month of storms for me. I look back over my Facebook memories and there's been a lot that has happened pretty much almost on the same day it seems.
I am also doing some reminiscing over my school years at my old High school. It's slated to be torn down. Remembering the good that happened there as well as the storms that happened there for me.
Had me remembering people whom God used to protect me while I was there. Being the nerd that I am I wasn't too popular. Was the target of many people for some not so pleasant things. Storms.
In the looking back over our lives at what's come upon us, quite often the storms seemed incredibly stressful and strong. Yet we see God's hands in all of them. You can too in yours if you look.
This week, the last several actually, are storm filled. We need reminded by God that He is Lord over the storms no matter what they are or where they are. No matter how big or how intense. The Lord Jesus Christ will continue to do what He's always done. He will tell those storms to hush and be still. It's us who learn to do the same.
Jesus asked them a simple question after He hushed the storms.
Our faith isn't strengthened in the easy times of life. It grows during the storms. Our roots in God grow stronger and deeper when the winds and rains buffet our existence. Doesn't nature itself show us this? Shallow roots to a big tree are never a good thing. The right storms and they topple over. It takes a great storm to topple a tree with very deep roots.
This morning I feel much as I did on a fall day in 2021. Was leaving where I was temporarily staying to drive back to Columbus. Another whirlwind weekend ahead of sorting, donating and pitching things to get ready to move. The storms I found myself in that day were a lesson to remember for the rest of my life. Dr. David Jeremiah in his book Overcomer describes something similar that was his experience.
He was taken down into an area underground. The only source of light was on his head. The darkness was so absolute that his only way forward was to walk only where the spot of light had illuminated. Walking by faith, he said, was much the very same thing.
My drive was much the same. I had to go forward because the harshness of the storm wouldn't let me pull off. I was being made to go through it. Driving where my eyes could see because of the light of my vehicle.
In our lives things are going to get complicated. Going to be rough. As we talked this past few Saturday's in our Men's Group...we grow in our adversities.
Today and the next few weeks it's probably going to feel much like that drive.
In Proverbs we read: "The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps." Chapter 16 verse 9 NASB.
In another we read "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB.
I am also reminded of a song where the words say "peace be still say the word and I will, set my feet upon the sea..."
We are not alone. You are not, I am not.
No human being is alone. Jesus is everywhere. Whether you are saved in Christ matters in regards as to how close you are to Him. Those of you who might be reading this who aren't saved, who have not placed your faith and trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation, you have been on your own up till today. You can change that in this moment of your life.
In Christ you have all the faith you need to get through this life. Your faith builds in your walk with Jesus. The storms inside and out will try to harm you but Jesus is stronger. He commands the winds and the rains. They don't tell Him how it's going to be, He tells them.
In no way is God ever surprised by what is happening in our lives. He has two plans in motion at all times for Believers and two for those who haven't yet come to Christ for salvation. For the Believers it's our growing in Christ to be like Christ. The other is the fulfillment of Scripture towards the prophecies of God.
For the unbelieving it's to show them that God does love them and wants a personal relationship with them...as well as to show them that there's wrath to come from God concerning sin. People do not need to be afraid of that wrath when they come to Christ for salvation.
My storms will try to rock my world, but the one in whom I trust will tell those storms that they are not all that. He will do as He's done and will continue to do until either my time on Earth is done or the Rapture of the Church...He will guide us through this and every single storm of life.
Growing us in Christ all the way. We only fool ourselves when we are intentionally looking to live a life free of storms. We aren't going to grow in Christ as we should without them. Read the parable of building a house upon the rock and what happened to the house built upon the sand.
Storms? What Storms? God is still God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
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