For quite a long time I've been struck by this incident in the lives of Jesus and His disciples, found in Mark 4:35. Jesus had said, as they prepared to board a boat, "Let us pass over unto the other side." As they sailed, He fell asleep. When a fierce storm came up, His disciples panicked. Obviously, they did not remember what He had said; they didn't take Him at His Word. He had to ask them, after stilling the storm, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (verse 40). The following, from the classic daily devotional Streams in the Desert, really encourages me. Maybe it will do the same for you today.
"Even when we go forth at Christ's command, we need not expect to escape storms; for these disciples were going forth at Christ's command, yet they encountered the fiercest storm and were in great danger of being overwhelmed, so that they cried out in their distress for Christ's assistance.
"Though Christ may delay His coming in our time of distress, it is only that our faith may be tried and strengthened, and that our prayers may be more intense, and that our desires for deliverance many be increased, so that when the deliverance does come we will appreciate it more fully.
"Christ gave them a gentle rebuke, saying, 'Where is your faith?' Why did you not shout victory in the very face of the storm, and say to the raging winds and rolling waves, 'You can do no harm, for Christ, the mighty Savior, is on board'?
"It is much easier to trust when the sun is shining than when the storm is raging.
"We never know how much real faith we have until it is put to the test in some fierce storm; and that is the reason why the Savior is on board.
"If you are ever to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might, your strength will be born in some storm." -- Selected.
"Christ said, 'Let us go to the other side' -- not to the middle of the lake to be drowned." -- Dan Crawford
J. Dwight Pentecost wrote, "He had said to them, 'Let us go over to the other side.' This word revealed the will of Christ, and no force in nature could prevent the accomplishment of His will."
Are we taking God at His Word... even when a storm comes up?
Yes, I am. He is my Truth!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing...
lady m
I heard a preacher preach on this in Nov. at a revival meeting. He preached it a light that I had never seen it. Sometimes we are rowing so hard, trying to do it all alone, then God says let go and we must trust him. If we sink, it is OK, because the bible says that he holds the water in the palms of his hands. So where are we going to go if we sink? Right into the master's hand!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughtful comments, lady m and Sandra. It is so nice to see you here at my kitchen table. Sandra, I really liked what that preacher said. Thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteStop by anytime, ladies!
God bless,
Mrs.T