God’s Got This!

I saw a post on Facebook that I thought would make a great title for a sermon. A friend was requesting prayer for a family member and someone wrote, “I’m praying with you. God’s got this!”

1. THE FORCEFUL DOWNPOUR

Matthew 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

“Tossed by the waves” the Greek word is “basanizo” = means to be tortured or tormented or to be greatly troubled. Have you ever been in a downpour that was scary?

“Contrary” means opposite or against! The wind was against them. They were rowing and fighting against the wind. They were trying to get to the shore to meet Jesus, but the wind was pushing them away from their objective. Have you ever been in a place where it seemed like everything, and everyone was against you?

V. 30 says that the wind was boisterous = powerful or mighty; this was an extremely forceful storm!

Mark 6:48 (NKJV) Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

It’s one thing to watch a storm building and you know what to expect! But when it comes all of the sudden in the middle of the night, it can really be scary. Notice, John tells us it was already dark!

John 6:16 (NKJV) Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

There are various types of storms or downpours that we must endure from time to time. I’m not just talking about dust storms or monsoons. Not even about tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, ice, or snowstorms. However, there are many downpours we face:

A. A Discouraging Downpour

Have you ever been in a downpour of discouragement? How many of you have noticed that sometimes people are discouraging? You know some of them! Negative Nellie, Despondent Dan, Critical Craig, Hateful Harry, etc. There are some people who can throw a wet blanket on everything!

Hebrews 12:3 (NKJV) For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

B. A Depressing Downpour

Nobody here has ever been in a downpour of depression, right? Listen, barring some kind of physical malady or injury. We’re too blessed to be depressed! Why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ is still on the throne. He’s still in charge of my life and He should be in charge of your life!

1 Samuel 30:6 (NKJV) Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

You may be discouraged or depressed! However, you can respond like David and encourage yourself in the Lord. Strengthen yourself in the things of God. Read your Bible. Listen to encouraging hymns and Gospel songs. Listen to challenging sermons. Call someone who walks with God and in whom you have confidence. Get around people who love the Lord and who will encourage you!

C. A Disheartening Downpour

Have you ever been in a situation where your heart just sank? Perhaps you had hopes and dreams of landing a great job, a nice home, nice cars, etc. Perhaps life hasn’t turned out like you expected. You’ve done everything you know to do. You stayed in school, kept away from drugs and alcohol, got that degree everyone said you needed. But you’re working a something totally different than your degree or training, etc. You’re in a disheartening downpour.

ILLUST. Thomas Edison invented the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, talking movies, and more than 1000 other things. December 1914, he had worked for 10 years on a storage battery. This had greatly strained his finances. This particular evening spontaneous combustion had broken out in the film room. Within minutes all the packing compounds, celluloid for records and film, and other flammable goods were in flames. Fire companies from eight surrounding towns arrived, but the heat was so intense and the water pressure so low that the attempt to douse the flames was futile. Everything was destroyed. Edison was 67. With all his assets going up in flames (although the damage exceeded two million dollars, the buildings were only insured for $238,000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof), would his spirit be broken?

Edison’s 24-year-old son, Charles, searched frantically for his father. He finally found him, calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind. “My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “He was 67—no longer a young man—and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, ‘Charles, where’s your mother?’ When I told him I didn’t know, he said, ‘Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.’“ The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver the first phonograph.