A Note for Those Who are Struggling

One time, as we read in Luke 8:22-25, Jesus was sleeping in the back of a little boat with His disciples, men who were all experienced sailors. A storm blew up over the Sea of Galilee, the ship rocked & tossed with such severity, that the seasoned sailors grew afraid. It must have been a terrifying time, for these seasoned experienced sailors were extremely afraid of capsizing and drowning. The Savior Jesus, whom they had already seen do many amazing things, was relaxed and asleep in the back of the boat! The Savior, side by side with these sailors in “the same boat” with them, yet we see that they had lost their focus on Him, reverted back to their own ability or lack thereof, and thus became terrified, gripped in fear. The storms of life can come up when you least expect it, often casting us into the chaos of fear and worry.

Where will you place your focus? …on your own abilities or on a true Savior? In our story, Jesus in full control of all nature (because He created it in the first place), easily quiets the storm and brings the sailors peace and comfort.

What can we learn from this story?

We all fall short; even though we know who Jesus is, in a storm we often lose focus on our Savior Christ and thus revert back to our own resources.

Though we are with Jesus, the storms of life can and will rage against us. Just because we chose to follow Christ Jesus does not mean we will always have calm in our lives; storms in the form of threat, fear, anxiousness, separation, and illness, will indeed blow against us whether Jesus is in the boat next to us or not.

Though we are faced with these storms, we have a way to turn. We should turn to Jesus, put our faith & trust in Him! Jesus can and will conquer every fear, every worry, and every form of threat from within or without!

Chin up…you are loved by the Master who created you; He will not turn away from you now! It is the people who turn away, not God. Ask yourself this question: What artist, in creating a masterpiece, would allow the masterpiece to be destroyed by others? You and your loved ones are God’s poetry, His fineness workmanship; God will never turn away from you!

Hold on to this and you’ll find strength through your trials and tribulations. Read Luke 6:48+49, the flood waters will rise up and winds blow & rage against both the believer’s and the non-believer’s house. The key is your foundation! What is your life built upon when the flood waters do rage against you; will you remain steadfast? Knowing Jesus doesn’t mean or guarantee that you will have an easy life free from pain; but having Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior will mean for you, that you will never ever be destroyed by life’s storms!

May God Bless you richly today and everyday!

Haven D. Mankin

December 20, 2007

Muskrat Books