January 22, 2015

“On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, the disciples took Jesus with them in the boat, just as he was. A great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher do you not care if we perish?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea “Peace! Be still!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Mark 4:off

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own wisdom. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in G*d…anticipates the teaching that (humanity) is justified by faith. To (trust) in G*d’s will…is to rise out of all our anxieties and plans and fears…The Grand sin of the human race is their continual endeavor to live independently of G*d.” (www.godvine.com/bible/proverbs/3-6)

“If you pray for deliverance, and be not delivered, do not think that you are not heard, nay do not think that you are not delivered for G*d delivers you by continuing you in that calamity from some greater (calamity). Limit not G*d therefore in his ways or times, but if you would be heard by him, hear him; if you would have him grant your prayers, do his will.” John Donne (1572 – 1631) “For All The Saints” volume I

Can we even conceive in our minds that Jesus put the disciples into a situation of potential disaster – and left them to see how they might handle the danger? Jesus did not steer them away from the storm but allowed them to row right into it – and after some time, Jesus stilled the storm. What can we learn? One of the lessons we can take from this text is the fact that we will never learn how to navigate through a storm unless we find ourselves in a storm. There is no possible way to live life without encountering some storms – and dare I say that the people who are never forced to fight through a storm miss the opportunity to learn some important facts about their readiness for surviving them.

Remember, there are some storms that Jesus will save us from before we encounter even one rough wave. But there will be some storms that the only way out – is through the rough waters. But every storm we weather with Jesus means a stronger back, a greater will, and a more durable trust and faith.

Pastor Dave