During Life's storms

During Life's storms

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go to the other side."  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.  There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.   Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.  The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?  He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!'  Then the sing died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?"  Mark 5:35-40

Everywhere I turn these days it seems there are people hurting.  Turn on the news.  There's chaos and fighting overseas, mudslides in the US, joblessness, suicides and the list goes on.  Unfortunately, it's not just on the news, its in our own communities and in our own homes.   We are really struggling.  Yes, even us Christians.  Take heart if you're anxious or afraid, the disciples were on the boat with the savior and they were afraid.

In fact, several of these men were seasoned fishermen and sailors who had seen many storms in their career. The fact that they were afraid that they would perish meant this must have been a huge storm.  Although Jesus was right there, they didn't think he cared.  Can you believe that?  He was there!  He was physically with them on the boat and they still worried.  But at the very moment one of the disciples cried out to Him, he responded by rebuking the wind and telling the waves to be quiet and be still.  Get this though (I love this), the sound of that big storm did not wake Him, the small cry of one of his sheep did!  Matthew 10:29 says that, "Not even a sparrow...can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it."

Sometimes he answers our cries immediately and other times after we reach the point of desperation.  Praise those times of desperation because some of us need to be broken to see He is our only hope...our anchor in the storm.  Just as Jesus said, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake", He will finish the work He has begun in us.   During those dark times in our lives, we should listen to the voice of our savior telling us to be "quiet, be still."  Then cry out to Him.  He will hear your voice over the largest storm.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our protector through the storms in our life.  Please help us to remember that you are always with us and that you hear us when we cry out to you.  Calm our hearts as you calmed that storm Jesus.  In your name we pray, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!