False Evidence Appearing Real - FEAR
04/02/07 Filed in: Pneuma
Can we rest in the boat in the
midst of a storm?
It's a question that came to mind yesterday. Picture this. Here is Jesus in a large boat with a dozen or more others, crossing a usually placid lake. Suddenly a freakish storm rises up. The boat is rocking, some are throwing up from the motion sickness, and fear grips the heart. The immediate response is that we need rescuing. In this familiar Bible story, we see Jesus did rescue them, but not in the way they might have expected. We don't see a large cruise liner pulling alongside to take them to a safer place. Instead we see Jesus calming the storm, and ironically even then says that they lacked faith. What were they supposed to do? Ride out the storm? Confront their fears and press on regardless?
It seems so contradictory to the messages we hear in so many Churches each Sunday doesn't it. We usually hear of how blissful life is as a Christian. The reality is, life is full of storms. But Jesus wants us to ride out the storm. He see things from an eternal perspective. So while we freak out, He, rests? It seems incredulous, but it's true, and we can have that same rest in the midst of any storm, we just need to have what Jesus said those disciples in the boat lacked. Faith.
Jesus is teaching me to find rest in the boat. Jesus is teaching me to have faith. The waves are terrible, the lighting is striking way too close for comfort, the thunder shakes me. The boat isn't even on a fixed heading, it's just bobbing back and forth, round and around. But I have faith in what God has spoken. We can cry out that we're all going to die in this storm, or we can follow the leading of Jesus, in faith, and find rest in the midst of the darkest storm, let the storm pan out, and come to the other side in one peace (no typo), and fully rested.
Let our confidence be in Him, He can both calm the storm if we ask, or take us safely to the other side of any sized storm.
Jesus’ disciples went with him as he left in a boat. Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping. So they woke him up, saying, “Lord! Save us! We’re going to die!” Jesus said to them, “Why do you cowards have so little faith?” Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
It's a question that came to mind yesterday. Picture this. Here is Jesus in a large boat with a dozen or more others, crossing a usually placid lake. Suddenly a freakish storm rises up. The boat is rocking, some are throwing up from the motion sickness, and fear grips the heart. The immediate response is that we need rescuing. In this familiar Bible story, we see Jesus did rescue them, but not in the way they might have expected. We don't see a large cruise liner pulling alongside to take them to a safer place. Instead we see Jesus calming the storm, and ironically even then says that they lacked faith. What were they supposed to do? Ride out the storm? Confront their fears and press on regardless?
It seems so contradictory to the messages we hear in so many Churches each Sunday doesn't it. We usually hear of how blissful life is as a Christian. The reality is, life is full of storms. But Jesus wants us to ride out the storm. He see things from an eternal perspective. So while we freak out, He, rests? It seems incredulous, but it's true, and we can have that same rest in the midst of any storm, we just need to have what Jesus said those disciples in the boat lacked. Faith.
Jesus is teaching me to find rest in the boat. Jesus is teaching me to have faith. The waves are terrible, the lighting is striking way too close for comfort, the thunder shakes me. The boat isn't even on a fixed heading, it's just bobbing back and forth, round and around. But I have faith in what God has spoken. We can cry out that we're all going to die in this storm, or we can follow the leading of Jesus, in faith, and find rest in the midst of the darkest storm, let the storm pan out, and come to the other side in one peace (no typo), and fully rested.
Let our confidence be in Him, He can both calm the storm if we ask, or take us safely to the other side of any sized storm.
Jesus’ disciples went with him as he left in a boat. Suddenly, a severe storm came across the sea. The waves were covering the boat. Yet, Jesus was sleeping. So they woke him up, saying, “Lord! Save us! We’re going to die!” Jesus said to them, “Why do you cowards have so little faith?” Then he got up, gave an order to the wind and the sea, and the sea became very calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27