Don’t Rock Your Boat!

Scripture:  Matthew 8:23-27 (NKJV) - Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Can you imagine how the disciples must’ve felt when the storm arose on the water while they were in the boat with Jesus … and He was sleeping?! If it was us, we would probably sound like this: “Like c’mon Lord! Really??? Uhhhh, so You don’t see or hear what’s going on around us? The winds are about to tip this WHOLE boat over, the water is covering our vessel! So basically, we fidna drown … and You sleep????”

Sound familiar?? Isn’t that how we talk to God sometimes when we’re in a storm?? We feel like we are all alone, no help in sight and we don’t see a way out. Yup, that definitely sounds like me – and I know I’m not the only one. Something unexpected happens, we are caught off guard and we quickly forget Who we belong to … we forget how great and awesome our God is! We  forget about everything He has done for us in times past. We forget to go into “Recall Mode”. You know the song lyrics: “This I recall to my mind therefore I have hope! It’s because of Your mercies that we are not consumed.”

Just like the disciples, we forget that the Lord is right there with us … in the storm! We say we follow Him. We say we apply His Word to our lives. We say we talk with Him/listen to Him through prayer. We ‘say’ we do a whole lot but when the rubber meets the road and our backs are up against the wall?? We panic, fret and forget that He is in full control of whatever is going on in AND around us! We forget Who is in our corner! Isn’t that what the disciples on the boat did??

But just as quickly as we forget, the Lord reminds us – sometimes gently, sometimes not so gently. He reminds us that He is bigger than any storm that comes our way! He also tells us to depend solely on Him, nobody else. Don’t rock your boat! Don’t look to other people, things, Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, etc. to help you weather your storm. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2a) He is there … always has been, always will be!

Without a doubt He is my Savior, my Strength along life’s waves

In deep waters He is my Anchor, and through faith He’ll keep me always

Without God, I could do nothing … without God, I would fail

Without Him, my life would rugged, SO rugged … like a ship without a sail

Prayer: Father, for the many times I’ve doubted You - please forgive me! For the moments I tried to do things on my own – please forgive me! When I forget Who You are – please forgive me! When I tell You about my storms instead of telling my storms about You – please forgive me! You are all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-loving! You can be trusted no matter what’s going on in my life … no matter what’s going on in me! Even when the enemy is the ‘inner me’, You never leave me nor forsake me! You show Yourself strong and gently remind me that You are in charge! There is nothing You haven’t equipped me for. In times when I’m in a storm and it seems like You’re asleep??? Help me remember that You never sleep nor slumber … You watch over me both night and day! Thank You Father! In Jesus’ Name we always pray … AMEN!

(by Casey Turner)