Stormy Weather

" 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!” 

Luke 8:22-25 NKJV

I read this the other day and was both challenged, and encouraged. The challenge comes in terms of my belief system. Just because I'm following Jesus is it smooth sailing? The encouragement is in the answer, no, but He is always good and in control. In control, if I'm in the boat with Him.

Lets look at this; Jesus gets in the boat and tells the disciples to get in with Him. He directs their course, and then rests. They are in the safest place on earth! They are in the boat with Jesus. Yet, even though they are with Him, and obeying Him, they get hit with a major life threatening storm. They cry out, and Jesus rescues them by exercising His sovereignty over the power of nature. Did they really need rescuing? Were they really in danger? After all, they were with Jesus. 

We should not be surprised that, when we follow Jesus, we get hit with the storms of life. Storms of sickness, fiances, relationships, sin, you name it. But if we are in the boat with Jesus even though we go through the storms, are we not really in a safe haven?

There are three keys to success in going through the storms of life that I want to point out. First, get in the boat with Jesus. Receive His invitation to enter into a life giving relationship. Second, stay in the boat with Him by staying in His Presence. Be filled with His Spirit, His Word, His people, worship, and service. Third, exercise the faith He has given you. I would add one more key; be thankful!

I really needed to receive this good news the other day. Like many of us, I'm facing a storm. Its good to know Who I'm in the boat with. Even the storm is no match for Him!

So, get in the boat with Jesus and don't be shocked when the storms of life come your way. You are in the safest place possible!