The Storm

Mark 4

Jesus and the disciples had been ministering all day,  and they were tired.

Jesus instructed the guys to get on the boat, 

they were going to the other side. (v. 35)

Getting to the other side is not as simple as just saying, "Ok, let's go."  

Getting to the other side may require certain skills, necessary maturing, perhaps even knowledge that can only be acquired by way of a storm.  

Only God knows what lies on the other side.  

"A furious squall came up, 

and the waves broke over the boat 

so that it was nearly swamped." (vs. 37)  

Here's the thing about storms, 

they brew invisibly,  

pop up unexpectedly, 

and threaten to overtake quickly.    

The perfect setting for an invasion of fear!

These fishermen probably had seen their share of storms, don't you think?

However, this one seems to have been quite the storm for they were afraid they were not going to make it this time.

Just like the fishermen, storms are bad no matter how many you've been through.  And, honestly, each feels worse than the one before.  Sometimes, you've just been through so many storms you wonder if you even have the strength to make it through another.

Where was Jesus all this time?  

Wasn't He in the boat with them?

 "Jesus, where are You?"

"Why would You ask us to get on the boat if You knew about the storm?"  

We can be doing exactly what we were called to do,

doing the will of the Father,

yet be smack in the middle of a storm, 

second guessing whether we heard God right.

"Did He really ask us to board this boat?"

He was in the stern.

SLEEPING.

Was He tired?  Oh, yes. 

He had been ministering all day long.  

But, didn't He hear the rumbles of the storm?  

Wow!  He can sleep through anything.  

Fear works like a load full of caffeine.  

The disciples were tired, too, but they couldn't sleep,

afraid of the storm raging around them,

afraid the water was coming into the boat,

afraid they were all going to die.

Jesus, however, knew the storms were subject to Him, 

He wasn't subject to the storm.  

Jesus knew the storms weren't taking anyone out that day; 

it wasn't the time.  

He also knew this storm was strengthening their faith 

and their knowledge of Him, skills they would need on the other side.

You see, Jesus knows things we don't.  

Well, you know how the story goes?  

Freaking out, the disciples find Jesus, 

wake Him up, and desperately 

"fill Him in" about the raging storm.  

Have you ever seen a boat full of frightened fishermen?

Must be a sight for sore eyes, and a sound for sore ears.

Jesus wakes up and rebukes the sea and the disciples!  

"DO YOU STILL HAVE NO FAITH?" 

Who is this man that even the winds and waves obey Him? (v. 41)

On another occasion, when Simon Peter's faith is tried and tested in another storm, this time no water involved, but the fear of death was similarly

all too real.  

Jesus encourages Him and says, 

". . . I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail"

You see, sometimes it's not that we don't have faith, it's just that we have allowed the storms to wash away the little faith we had.  We resolve in our hearts, this time the storm is just too strong, and we surrender, 

wave the white flag. "We're done!"

Just like Jesus prayed for Simon Peter's faith to remain strong in the midst of the struggle, He prays for us, "May her faith not fail."  Luke 22:32

 

Father,

When the storm subsides and the winds fade, 

when You assess the damages, even through the debris,

may You find us, and our families,

 faithful! 

Remind us there is a purpose for the storm.

We don't understand or necessarily care for it on this side, 

but may our faith be anchored in tightly,

believing that it will all be worth it on the other side of the storm.

When Anxiety Lingers . . .

Stomach's tingling,

Head's fogging,

Energies are dwindling,

Why?

Anxiety just knocked on the door, again.

Anxiety is an unwelcome visitor,

like the one who comes and doesn't want to leave . . .

The visitor that comes up with a variety of creative and logical 

reasons why they must stay a little while longer.

A little while longer can add up to weeks, months, even years ~

All we did was open the door, a little, and Anxiety was home.

Anxiety invades our space and situations,

It insists on controlling our decision making,

It reminds us of all the things that can go wrong,

It tries to define us, to tell us who we are.

And, persuades us to believe the worse.

"You can't do this!"

"You don't have the skills!"

"You already failed."

"The worse is going to happen!"

"It's all over."

Anxiety's boss is FEAR.

Fear's job is to keep us in our corner.

Paralyzed.

And, as long as we comply, 

FEAR leaves us alone.

The moment we decide to

move, or imagine, or consider a way out,

FEAR sends its minion, Anxiety,

to keep us in our place.

Philippians 4:6-8 

is one of my life verses. Recently, I was inspired to take a look at it again, 

consider the message and grab onto it for dear life.

Here's what it's saying to me, 

and hopefully to you:

Is anything impossible for God?

Is anxiety's arm longer than His?

Our Father is a good One!

And, He has not forgotten His promises!

Even while we're in Fear's corner,

Even while paralyzed,

Even when nothing is changing,

He whispers, 

"I AM going to get you out of this!"

 And, when I do, you will be able to say, 

'Look what the Lord has done!'"

Even then,

He begins to deposit a NEW PLAN!

His plan, in all probability,  

may look differently than what we imagined,

but it will be far better because He planned it, 

not us.

When do the words of a book change the author's purpose, 

or the lyrics of a song change the songwriter's vision?

God is the author and the finisher!

This is what the LORD says!

EARNESTLY,

for everything.

and the 

OF GOD

which 

cannot be explained or understood 

or even reasoned away,

will come to the

RESCUE!

It will also GUARD 

our hearts and our minds

from Anxiety's and Fear's influence and persuasion.

GOD IS OUR SUPER HERO!

in the name of 

JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD!

Anxiety doesn't have the last word, God does.

God's an expert at building highways 

even in places where there is no way.

God's got this.

 Even when we don't see anything happening, 

or hear anything, He's still working.  

This is a FAITH walk, and the good news is, we don't need much.  All we need is faith the size of a mustard seed to move God's plan into action.  

Before we see changes in our circumstances, there must be a transformation in our hearts. We must return to those times when God was first before anything and everything ~

. . . return to the time when we sought Him with all of our hearts and asked Him to invade our lives, our circumstances, our wills, 

we kept knocking on the door of His heart,  relentlessly,

until God moved!  

And, if by His sovereignty, our circumstances don't change,

Anxiety will finally be evicted and Peace will be home.

Chasing Crowns

Nine years ago we celebrated our daughter's Quinceañera.  I can still remember the preparations and details.  It was almost like planning a wedding.  We had to secure a hall, a caterer, invitations, decorations, a court, the dance, the dress, the shoes, the hair,
the make-up, and the CROWN.

In the traditional Quince ceremony, the birthday girl walks down the aisle with her beautiful gown, all made-up, surrounded by her court. The crown is lovingly, proudfully and admiringly placed on her head by her parents, signifying she is a daughter of God.  A Princess.

Our daughter had been dreaming of her Quince since she was 12. All her friends, family and anyone else who wanted to be there would be there.
Hence, her crown had to be spectacular.

Choosing bigger-than-life crowns certainly does run in our family.  My cousin wore one at her wedding shower.  So beautiful, the crown and the person.  

Crowns, obviously, symbolize royalty, however, they also imply accomplishment, glory, honor, position, status, winning, success, and all other highest of levels.

Have you ever had an opportunity to wear a crown? Maybe at a birthday, wedding, contest or even a graduation? Whatever the ocassion, if you've ever worn one, even if just for fun, then you certainly know what it feels like. Everyone's eyes are on you.  

Realistically speaking, most days we don't get to wear crowns. 

We just go about our very busy lives, doing what we do best, and count on recovering enough strength to do it all again the next day.  

Interestingly, sometimes, we find ourselves needing one.  Not the one that is worn on the top of our head, the one everyone sees, rather the one we wear inside our hearts where no one sees.

The ones that imply:

importance,
beauty,
effectiveness,
intelligence,
talent,
wisdom,
effort.

We don't always want to believe these crowns are necessary,
and frankly, most of the time they're not.  Seldom do we perform for the crown.  We do what we do for the glory of God, to help others and our families.  And, even if our obligations are difficult, we enjoy them.  It's in our DNA to work hard, to create, to solve problems, to help, to do our best.

Then, out of nowhere comes that one thing, that one task, event, or time, when the "crown" becomes more important than we'd like it to be.

Maybe it's because we didn't really want to accept the challenge,
yet we did and we came through.  Did anyone notice?

How about when someone else received a "crown" for expending much less effort? Did anyone notice?

 Maybe it's because the task has become increasingly rigorous; our confidence, energy and passion is exhausted. We need consideration, to be strengthened.
Is anyone noticing?

Whatever is the case, without wanting or realizing,
we may find ourselves up to our knees in the chase.

If you're in this place right now, I have great news . . . !

You've already been crowned.

Our Lord notices when no one else does.

Our Lord is watching and acknowledging you
when everyone else is too busy.

He sees what you do, what you've done, and He is pleased
with your obedience and effort.

The crown He gives is far more real, meaningful, and eternal,
given only by Him, customed designed with your name on it.
No one else can wear it but you.
It's His reward for your faithfulness.

1 Corinthians 9: 24 -26

"Did you know that in a race, all runners run, 
but only one gets the prize. Everyone who competes in the games 
goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last. 
But we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

When we feel a little disheartened because the "crown-givers" passed us by once again,  let us be encouraged, "We have Him!" And, oh my, what a prize!

Just like my husband placed the crown on his daughter nine years ago symbolizing that she was his princess, our God has a crown for you that signifies you are His.  Chase over.

Thank you so much for visiting with me today.  

Stop by Holley Gerth, Coffee for Your Heart 

for more inspiration and encouragement.