How to get through the storms in your life

I’m sure you have experienced a physical storm, and in some cases ones that have caused serious destruction and devastation. What about the storms of life?

Those times where things just don’t make sense. Times where your problems seem so big and your faith seems so small.

Times where you feel so swamped and afraid that you are going to be taken over by the storm.

If I am honest, life feels like this at the moment. The past few weeks, I have found myself thinking a lot about storms and have been reminded and encouraged by Mark 6 (Jesus calming the storm).

  1. Jesus sees us in our circumstances

‘When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them’ Mark 6:47

While the disciples were struggling in a dark storm, Jesus was on the mountain watching all this happen. He was watching and praying. This is the same for you.

When you’re going through a dark struggle, you may look around and ask, “God where are you?” God sees you and God cares for you. God is constantly thinking about you.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

Psalm 139:17

 

  1. Jesus transcends our circumstances

Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them

Mark 6:48

Imagine the disciples rowing fiercely, straining at the oars, only to look to the side and see Jesus passing by. Why would He have intended to do such a thing?

Perhaps to show that – no matter what; even a dire set of circumstances as a storm in the midst of the sea – the circumstances didn’t affect Him. He was completely above it all.

This is the same for you. God is above all circumstances and every storm in your life.

Take a moment to think about the circumstances you face in life that seem out of control. They are out of YOUR control, but they are not out of control at all.

Jesus is the one who’s able to command the wind and waves to be still. It is all under his sovereign rule. What did the disciples fear the most? Drowning.

They were afraid of going in the water and the boat sinking. The very thing they feared the most, the water was literally under the feet of Jesus.

Coronavirus, under his feet

Financial issues, under his feet

_______________________________ (insert your own circumstance), under his feet

He transcends your circumstances because of who he is, he invites you to look to him.

You may still be in the storm, but with him, you will always rise above them victoriously

  1. Jesus presents himself to us in our circumstances

‘Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid’

Mark 6:50

God declared this name to his people when they were facing circumstances outside THEIR control – (slavery in Egypt). His name – I AM THAT I AM – meant He was promising that He would be everything His people needed Him to be.

Jesus identified himself to the disciples in the same way. He was able to be everything that they needed and he is able to be the same for you.

  1. Jesus enters in with us in our circumstances

‘Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down’

Mark

Look how quickly the situation changed, once Jesus got into the boat.

Jesus could have caused the storm to stop just by commanding it while he was sitting on the mountain, but he chose to walk through the storm and come to the disciples personally. It is exactly the same thing he does for you.

Why not invite Jesus into your trials. The waves perhaps still rock and splash a little but things immediately got better the moment Jesus stepped into the boat.

‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand’

Isaiah 41:10

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