When Storms Come...

When storms come in our lives, when waves crash over our boat, threatening to sink us, how do you respond? Are you overcome with fear? Do you doubt God's sovereignty, Him being in control? Do you cry out to God? Do you keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith? Do you freak out? Do you run and hide? How do you respond when anything unexpected pops up in your life? 

Look at the apostles in the boat with Jesus:

Matthew 8:23-26 NIV

[23] Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. [24] Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. [25] The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” [26] He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

This is a normal human reaction to a boat sinking whether Jesus was in the boat with them or not. So, right off the bat, it is perfectly normal to initially freak out a little bit. 

But as Christians, as God's children, the Church, the initial shock and fear of it is a place that God does not want us to stay. Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" He was giving us the key to facing fear and storms in our lives. He was telling us to have faith, to trust in God, and not to be worried or afraid. We are to be solely dependent on God and trust that He is sovereign, He is in control. When we do that, we are placing everything in His hands and rely on Him to save us from whatever life throws at us. That is faith. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

[7] For we live by faith, not by sight. 

Just as we were solely dependent upon our physical parents when we were children, now, God wants us to be solely dependent upon Him because He is our Heavenly Father or Heavenly Parent. We are His adopted children now, so we have to "become like little children," which is solely dependent on Him. 

Matthew 18:3 NIV

[3] And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 

Also, we have the Holy Spirit inside each one of us and God "did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind" (II. Tim. 1:7).

So being fearful is not where He wants us to stay. He says "perfect love drives out fear," and His love is perfect towards us, so there is no need to live in fear.

1 John 4:18 NIV

[18] There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

His love is "unfailing and never ending." So we can put our very lives in His hands. Trusting in God, trusting that He is in control, depending on Him like a little child dispells the fear in our lives. See? Faith is the key. 

Just like Abraham did, we can trust God at His word.

Look here:

Joshua 1:9b.NIV

[9]... Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalms 121:7-8 NIV

[7] The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; [8] the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalms 91:9-16 NIV

[9] If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, [10] no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. [11] For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; [12] they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. [13] You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. [14] “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. [15] He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. [16] With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalms 27:1 NIV

[1] The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

We don't have to let fear or worry or uncertainty in life consume us. We can face the world bravely as God is the constant in our lives, the stronghold in our lives. He loves us and always will. We can trust in Him, and depend on Him everyday as life happens. 

So don't be afraid. Be brave. God won't let our boats sink.

Love you all dear readers,

Jeffrey Post