In the seas of this journey called life life, we grow to learn that storms can sneak up on us. A bill out of nowhere can take a bite out of your paycheck or savings. A parent or loved one suddenly becomes ill, and you become a caregiver. A child’s bad decision can lead to a day in court and a prison sentence. Or a momentary lack in judgement can leave you bewildered, hopeless and in despair. Such storms cause our anxiety to rise to dangerous levels. We look for help from someone to calm us down, fix the problem, and restore life to the way it was.
This situation reminds me of the story in the Bible when the disciples were panicking when a sudden storm had them scared to death
The scripture reads in
Luke 8:22-25
Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
This scripture leaves me to ask a question as the title for our nugget
“Who’s In Your Boat?”
Many of the disciples were experienced fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. And being fishermen, they had often weathered sudden rain storms and treacherous waves. Experience taught them that storms could come out of nowhere. So when Jesus suggested going to the other side of the lake, I can imagine they knew within themselves, they had to be ready for anything.
Although experienced in their craft, the Disciples, can’t control sudden storms that may arise in the sea. Nor can you and I control the sudden storms of life that may suddenly come our way. That’s the way life is. But if we are children of God, all we have to do is remember his promise that he would never leave us nor forsake us, that he’s with us always, – in short, we must remember who’s in the boat with us, and therefore we can weather any storm
You see, When the The disciples encountered the sudden storm, they never stopped to think what it meant to have Jesus in the boat with them. And, to them, he wasn’t doing anything! But, of course, he was sleeping—not worrying or getting frantic about the storm. The disciples spent so much energy trying to save themselves from the storm on their own power that they forgot to be still and recognize that Jesus is God, who had their lives in his hands. Jesus was in their boat. All they needed to do was trust who he was, trust in him, and trust his word. They needed to calm down and remember what He said to them… He said to them, come let’s go to the other side… this is a promise! You see, what Jesus Implied is the promise that we will reach the other side. Jesus is not allowing you to get on a boat without reaching the final destination – and especially when he’s the one who told you to get in the boat. Though trials may find you as you cross the sea of life, he has promised that you are only passing through. You will make it to the other side (Luke 8:22).
Even when you face difficulties or obstacles that seem as if they will take your life and be too overwhelming for you to bear, Jesus wants you to have faith. Those are the moments when you must exercise your faith and live out the fact that you trust the word of God.
Where is your faith? Jesus is asking. When life is hard and the waters are raging, where is your faith? Have you forgotten that the same God who said Get on the boat also has the power to rebuke the wind and the waves? That the same God who allowed your various situations, is the same God who has the power to settle them and suddenly?
My brothers and sisters, even when you think God is sleeping, He’s not! He’s always in control. The universe and all creation obey His Word. When He speaks, it is done. So even as you are in your boat of situations, do not abandon ship, do not despair, do not lose hope, do not panic! Remain calm and remember that Jesus is always in the boat with you. And when Jesus is in the boat, you can rest assured that you will reach the other side. Therefore, you have no reason to fear. Just have faith! He will see you through your your every storm.
Even when it seems as if Jesus is not doing anything, He is still in control. Just wait on Him to rescue you, knowing that at all times, He is in control. So I admonish each of you today, be still and trust in His protection. You can trust that He is powerful enough to control the winds and the waves that threaten you getting through your go through. Because when Jesus is in the boat, you will most definitely get to the other side.