Calmness. Do you need some in your life?
I unintentionally woke up early (2:30am), and decided to pray and read scripture on calmness. Well, I only got one story in before I was led to camp on these verses for the next two hours. Join me, as I was reminded that when you find yourself in a bleak situation, Jesus is with you.
Luke 8:22-25:
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. (NLT)
When I finished the very first sentence, from my New Living Translation of the bible, in this amazing story, the word Let’s had me stop and investigate. I search for this same set of scriptures in the Amplified, New International, King James, Easy Read, New American Standard Versions of the bible.
Yep, my first thought was confirmed…Jesus was with them. The disciples were not alone on this journey.
“Let us…” (AMP, NIV, KJV)
“Come with Me…” (ERV)
“Let’s…” (NASB)
Take a look at what the disciples did when Jesus told them to cross to the other side of the lake with Him…they got in the boat. Without hesitation, they launched out with Jesus.
Now, I presume that when they agreed to go with Jesus, and loaded up into the boat, that the sea was not rough or even violent. One thing was surmised by the disciples as well…they were going to cross to the other side of the lake.
23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. (NLT)
It appears that in the first portion of the story, it was smooth sailing. Then, it all changed.
Now, these disciples were no strangers to being on the water. Most were fishermen for goodness sake. They didn’t have the weather app to pull up to check the future forecast. Nope, they followed the lead of their Jesus. (I was about to type the word captain instead of Jesus, but thought, “No, Jesus wasn’t the captain of this sailing vessel. He was just The One they followed. He wasn’t at the helm, He was settling down for a nap. Or…or…was He? Was Jesus captaining the boat, and the disciples lost faith in Him because they thought just because He was sleeping that He wasn’t in control?)
The storm became violent. Let us remember that Jesus was with them. Yes, He was with them during the calm sea with a gentle breeze, and He was still with them through the fierce storm. Yes, Jesus was with them when their surroundings became dangerous.
Imagine the disciples panicked faces and racing heartbeats. Their eyes scanning the sky, the contents of the boat, and each other. Danger was in the air and anxiety was consuming their beings. I envision this scene because of what we are told in the upcoming verse.
Questions fill my mind: Did they focus on their surroundings more than on Jesus? Do we do that when we find ourselves in a terrifying situation? Should we be still and rest in Him instead of allowing the world to consume us?
24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.
This boat contained mostly seasoned seamen. The bible tells us that the disciples thought they were going to drown. For them, this was the end of their lives.
Did they all come to the conclusion that they were going to die? I think about my husband. He is now a certified captain, yet when he found himself in a violent storm he wasn’t certified, but he sure knew how to navigate a boat in various situations. Why? Because he grew up watching and learning from his father. The family had spent many years on the water, and Tim gained much knowledge, insight, and wisdom over the years. (Oh, there’s a devotional here all in itself. He observed and learned from his father. We need to do the same with our Heavenly Father. Keep our eyes on Jesus.)
Okay, I thought of this because if our boat was filling up with water and danger was lurking, Tim would not just say “we are going to drown!”. He would use all the knowledge he had acquired over his lifetime and do his best to save us.
So, was it all of the disciples yelling this? Were the seasoned seamen aboard doing all they could to keep the vessel safe or did they allow others to get into their psyches? Either way, the disciples (whether it was a handful or all) called out to Jesus. Dear friend, I pray that you will call out to Jesus, and always look to Him. Why? Take a look at what Jesus did. He calmed the storm. There was peace. He can and does that for you as well. No matter what storm you are going through in life…Jesus is with you! He can take the most terrifying situation and turn it into the most peaceful circumstance. God IS in control…even when it doesn’t seem so.
25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
We do the same thing. When we see, or are in, a situation that looks bleak, and then God works a miracle, we tend to say, “God showed up.”. Yes, He did show up, but He really never left in the first place. Jesus was with them. He is with YOU too.
God didn’t provide an app that informs us of the conditions of our future. He desires for us to look to Him, put our faith in Jesus Christ, and follow Him. I pray that whatever situation you find yourself in, that you will call out to Jesus and know that He is with you through it all. To God be all the glory, for He truly is your Captain. May Jesus Christ preside over your life.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie
While choosing a photo to use in this entry, I came across this journal entry from 2021. Same picture. And a bonus video is included. Enjoy. I hope you are encouraged.