“Let us cross over to the other side.” Mark 4:35 NKJ.
Trials become a conviction that God will do something amazing.
My thoughts and comments today are that,“storms will come.”
Life is a journey. At times, getting from where you are to where you need to be will present challenges. You cannot know what you will face along the way. Life will be a mixed bag of experiences. Some good; some not so much.
In this, you can be confident. “ 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose . . 29 to be conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:28-29 NIV. You have a destiny. God is always at work on behalf of those He has redeemed.
Mark, a disciple of Jesus, recalled an occasion when Jesus taught massive crowd. He told insightful stories about the Kingdom of God. When evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side (of the lake).” Mark 4:35 NKJ. The other side holds your destiny.
How apparently simple and straightforward their journey should be, or so they assumed. The weather was compliant; the sea was calm. Then everything changed dramatically. Life seems to be that way a lot. They encountered a storm of such peril and consequence that even seasoned fishermen feared for their lives.
And all of that chaos was while Jesus was in the boat with them. Remember this. Jesus’ company does not assure that you will have no problems. But Jesus’ presence makes all the difference in the completion of your journey. With all the ships that sank in storms on that sea at one time or another, their story would have a dissimilar end.
Jesus was the difference. He always is. The difference was not the courage, skills, or seasoned experience of fishermen on that frequently tempestuous sea. He always is. Jesus commanded the storm, and calmed the disciples, “And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39-40 NKJV.
Ordinary days do not remain ordinary. Familiar routines are occasionally disrupted by emergences unforeseen. When your journey gets stormy, you need to listen for a word from God. Panic and fear reduce your ability to listen well. You know what the circumstance seems to suggest. The disciples saw the storm and projected their fear. In troubling times, you need to hear a word from God in which to walk with faith and courage.
Never doubt in the dark what God has said in the light. Their fear made them forget what Jesus had said before the storm. God’s Word does not change because your situation does. Remember, Jesus had said, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake!” The other side was more than their projected destination. It was their destiny.
Today’s storm cannot negate God’s promises to you. If the end of their journey were not safely on the other shore, Jesus would not have spoken of, crossing over, “to the other side.” That is just logical.
At times, your journey may feel overwhelming. The Apostle Paul described a time when he felt, “burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired of life . . that we should not trust in ourselves but in God Who raises the dead.” See 2 Corinthians 1:2-11 NKJ. Your current challenge is not your demise. The effect of any trial is a new, unshakable conviction that your God will do the unthinkable and impossible.
My prayer for you today is for you to let God’s peace displace your panic.
EDL Communications 2020
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