This very familiar story presents some valuable tips and pointers for helping us spiritually "navigate the waters" of the tough issues of our lives.

 

The first thing to notice is that this particular voyage was initiated by the Son of God. It was not initiated by the disciples. Nevertheless, the journey was fraught with life-threatening difficulty.

 

For believers in Christ who commit the direction of our lives to Him, when times get tough, it is easy to start questioning whether God was really directing us into the situation we find ourselves in. This story assures us that, if we know that God initiated our course of action--we prayed, we sensed the right direction, and we took it by faith--then whatever difficulties arise on the "voyage" do not prove God was not behind our decisions. We must not second guess the Lord's authorship of our course just because times get tough.

 

The second thing to notice is that no sooner has the journey begun, but Jesus goes to sleep, and the storm then appears. This speaks to us of the sense we get through the hard times that God has abandoned us. God seems silent to us in the midst of difficulty. It is as if He is "asleep at the switch" in heaven and is somehow out of earshot of our troubles. Not true. Rather He is ever present, even though He may not seem to be.

 

The third thing to note is that upon being awakened through desperate appeal, Jesus simply speaks a word of divine calm to the storm--and it disappears. This is in contrast to all the feverish efforts of the disciples to bail out the water from the boat. The disciples were dealing with the effects of the problem. Jesus spoke to the source of the problem. The disciples would have been yelling at each other frantically to "Get this hole, get that hole!" Jesus speaks a single word of peace.

 

It requires divine engagement of the root issues to solve problems in life, and that by the word of peace. "Peace, be still" is all that God has to say to a life threatening matter. Frantic efforts under panic do not solve life threatening issues.  

 

Finally, Jesus turns to the disciples and asks, "Where is your faith?" Usually, that is interpreted to mean, "Where is your faith in Me? I was here all the time." But if we listen carefully, we can hear something deeper. We can really hear Him say, "Where is YOUR faith?" In other words, "Why didn't you simply do what I did? You could have spoken what I did and you would have had the same result. You didn't need to wake me up for this."

 

And that, I think, was the real planned lesson all along.

 

People are really stressed out right now about "the corporation," their homes and their futures. If you have come to this site in search of help, you are probably one of them. But for believers in Christ who have surrendered and committed their lives to His direction, it need not be so. This story stands as a sentinel for instruction and encouragement of what is possible amidst the storms of foreclosure, bankruptcy or even unlawful arrest. Just reconsider these simple points:

 

1. Certify in your heart that you are on the road you are because you originally received conviction or even heard an inner word from God's Spirit that you did what you were supposed to do. If you can't certify that in your heart, simply repent and give the journey over to Him now. He can walk on water and can still come into your boat by invitation even if He did not initiate the journey. 

 

2. If you have certified you are where you are because God led you there, don't second guess your actions because of your troubles. Your troubles prove nothing about God's original will for you on the journey.

 

3.Resist the urge to panic. Still your heart before God. Your frantic efforts will not save your house from foreclosure sale or you from eviction, or what-have-you.

 

4. Look for the source of the problem, not the effects. If you can't tell the difference, ask God to show you where the real source of the storm is.

 

5. If you are already a disciple of Christ, you don't need to wake Him up. You don't need to clamor for His attention as if He has no clue what is going on with your life. Simply speak the word of peace to the source of your storm. Then step aside and see what God will do!

Chris Anderson

First Love Ministry
- a ministry of Anglemar Fellowship
http://www.firstloveministry.org

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