So I was reading a fairly common (and usually misinterpreted) passage in the Bible this morning. In Matthew 8, Jesus and the disciples are on a boat and a storm comes. You probably know the ending: Jesus is woken, not by the storm, but by the disciples crying out in fear of death, pleading for Jesus to save them. Jesus proceeds to still the waters. **NOTE: This is NOT a promise that when you are experiencing a "storm of life" that Jesus will calm it as soon as you pray for help. The disciples knew of the power that Jesus had; He was God, after all. They knew He could save them. Then why in verse 26 did He rebuke them of little faith before He stopped the storm? They had faith in His power, but not in His love. They had fear of their problems. They thought that their current situation would end their life because their God was asleep. Their fear was greater than their faith. That's where they went wrong. God doesn't rest from keeping His followers where He wants them.
When you are in a "storm", don't pray for God to remove it, and don't have fear. Ask God to shine in you despite your circumstances. Ask God to make you more Christ-like.
BAD: FEAR > FAITH
GOOD: FAITH >> FEAR
God give me wisdom and discernment. Send trials my way to mature me (James 1:2-3). You alone are Holy.
Have you ever heard the expression,"Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child". Sounds like what you are talking about. Facing the storms of life, and relying on God builds our faith and confidence in Him to lead us, no matter what our circumstances. We learn to trust and not be fearful.
ReplyDeleteI read a quote by a very eloquent speaker about Jonah and the Church:
ReplyDelete"God responds to Jonah's flight by sending a mighty storm. The wind obeys Yahweh's commands, but the disobedient Jonah sleeps in the bottom of the boat, oblivious of the fact that the storm is directed at him. At times the Church, too, sleeps right through the storm of God's judgment passing over the world, assuring herself that the wind outside has nothing to do with her."
Something to ponder.