And there arose a great storm of wind, and waves beat
into the ship, so that it had become filled with water.
Mark 4:37
Within the past week, I have written to several friends on the subject of enduring life’s storms...
into the ship, so that it had become filled with water.
Mark 4:37
Within the past week, I have written to several friends on the subject of enduring life’s storms...
That everyone will, at times, be assailed by various difficulties which slam against our souls just as powerful waves pound away at boats in the ocean.
Yet here in the Scriptures we see that Christ allowed His disciples to experience a dangerous storm. In fact, it was so intense that even those in the boat, who were experienced fishermen, were afraid. They cried out, “Lord, don’t you care that we may die?” (Mark 4:38).
But they weren’t going to perish. Jesus was with them, and He loved them. It would’ve made no sense for Christ to have hand-picked these men to be His followers and workers, only to have them drown.
However, isn’t this like us? We’re going through a difficult situation, or more than one situation at the same time, and we get stressed out. We complain. We panic. We become discouraged. We find ourselves basically saying the same words the disciples did, “Lord, don’t you care?”
Of course He does. But when we’re undergoing a trial, we oftentimes lose sight of these truths. That Christ is always with us, and will be with us even until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). Also, that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Philippians 4:13).
I believe that when we finally understand how the hardships we face in life are ultimately working out for our benefit, our faith will mature. It will grow to new heights. And we will truly learn what it means to trust in the Lord, and to walk by faith, and not by our fickle feelings, nor our faulty senses.
In all frankness, I have not as of yet achieved such a level of spiritual adulthood, but I’m working at it.
D.B.
Yet here in the Scriptures we see that Christ allowed His disciples to experience a dangerous storm. In fact, it was so intense that even those in the boat, who were experienced fishermen, were afraid. They cried out, “Lord, don’t you care that we may die?” (Mark 4:38).
But they weren’t going to perish. Jesus was with them, and He loved them. It would’ve made no sense for Christ to have hand-picked these men to be His followers and workers, only to have them drown.
However, isn’t this like us? We’re going through a difficult situation, or more than one situation at the same time, and we get stressed out. We complain. We panic. We become discouraged. We find ourselves basically saying the same words the disciples did, “Lord, don’t you care?”
Of course He does. But when we’re undergoing a trial, we oftentimes lose sight of these truths. That Christ is always with us, and will be with us even until the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20). Also, that we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength (Philippians 4:13).
I believe that when we finally understand how the hardships we face in life are ultimately working out for our benefit, our faith will mature. It will grow to new heights. And we will truly learn what it means to trust in the Lord, and to walk by faith, and not by our fickle feelings, nor our faulty senses.
In all frankness, I have not as of yet achieved such a level of spiritual adulthood, but I’m working at it.
D.B.
