so the waves swept over the boat.” Matthew 8:24
Today has turned out to be incredible. It began with strong winds and dark clouds. Now the sky is full of low hanging white cotton balls; azure blue waters roll by in seamless harmony. I just want to sit and take it all in: Gaze at the sky. Be mesmerized by the clouds. Hear God’s whisper along the wings of
the wind.
Don’t many of our days begin with calm and end in chaos? We are on blue waters that suddenly threaten to engulf us—with no warning, with no chance of escape, with no life guards on duty.
That’s exactly what happened to the disciples. There was no warning. All of a sudden, the water that they trusted became the death that they feared. Worse still, Jesus was sleeping—seemingly unconcerned with their plight.
What do you do when the day has turned from sunny to stormy? From warm into wild? I must confess that I am all too often like the disciples, who immediately entered panic mode. I believe that God has forgotten me; abandoned me; left me to perish in the storm of sickness, the squall of failure, the tempest of broken dreams and lost loves. We find ourselves drowning in the fierce waters of depression, despair and desolation. We don’t think that we can be saved.
But the story tells us otherwise. It is precisely when we are afraid that the water to be stronger than our faith that Jesus walks towards us--holding out His hand, offering us His help. He is ever near us to save us. He will not let the waters overtake us.
How can I be sure of this? Do I dare believe? His story tells that I can be sure, that I can believe, and that He will save me.
Tell the story: You will be giving hope. Tell the story: You will be offering a life preserver to a drowning soul.