How Do We Face The Storms Of Life?

After preaching to a great multitude (Mark 4:1-29), it was evening time and Jesus told the disciples that he wanted to cross over to the other side. Why? We do not know. It may have been that he had grown tired and need some peace and quiet after such a long church service. So, the disciples took Jesus into a boat from amongst the many that were around there.

The Sea of Galilee is 680 feet lower than the sea level, and it is encircled by sloping hills. Any winds blowing across the land strengthen near the ocean, causing brutal and surprising tempests. A portion of the disciples were experienced fishermen who had spent their lives fishing on this immense lake, yet in this tempest, they overreacted.

The disciples overreacted in light of the fact that the tempest took steps to obliterate them all, and Jesus appeared to be ignorant and uninterested. It was if he did not have a care in the world. Well, why should he? He is the Son of God, the One who had created the world. They were facing an actual physical tempest, however some storms come in diverse types and ways as well.

We should ponder the tempests in our lives, the circumstances that can cause us extraordinary tension. Regardless of the type of trouble, we have two choices. We can stress and expect that Jesus no longer thinks about us, or we can oppose the dread, by placing our confidence in him. At the point when we want to overreact, we ought to admit our need for God and afterward trust in him to deal with our need.

The disciple had been living with Jesus; however, they had misjudged him. They did not see that his power applied to their circumstance. Jesus has been with his people for quite some time, but similar to the disciples, we underrate his ability to deal with the emergencies in our lives. The disciples did not yet know enough about Jesus. On the other hand, many of us cannot concoct a similar rationalization.

Jesus rebuked the wind. He did not have to speak more than once for this occasion. How many times does God have to tell us something before we will even listen?

There was an old television commercial years ago. “When EF Hutton speaks, people listen.” When the Lord speaks, why do we not listen? When a newborn baby cries, her mother will speak and cuddle her and the baby calms down. Storms can be physical or spiritual, small, medium, or large. What storm is approaching you or are you in a storm right now? What is the nature of your storm? Jonah disobeyed and that storm was his chastisement due to his sin. Peter’s storm was for faith building.

Psalms 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sometimes we tend to rely on self before trusting in the Lord. The men panicked, scared, afraid of the storm. I have been on the sea during a storm, and I can understand how they felt. They did not realize the Master of the sea could calm or remove the storm. We must contemplate and think about the peace that gives to his people, to those who put their faith and trust in him.

John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

With these words, Jesus advises the disciples to have fortitude (courage). Disregarding the inescapable battles that they will confront; they are by themselves. Neither will Jesus leave us to our battles alone as well. If we will recollect that the definitive triumph has undoubtedly been won, we can declare the tranquility of Christ in the most distressing times. Jesus can calm the storms of nature and of the heart. The storms will pass, but how long will we remain in the storm could depend upon us. Jesus can stop the storm, and he is waiting on us.

In Ecclesiastes 3, it states that to everything there is a season. Timing is significant. Every one of our encounters are suitable at specific times. The key to harmony with God is to find, acknowledge, and like God's amazing luck. The peril is to uncertainty or detest God's planning. That can prompt despondency, defiance, or pushing forward without his recommendation.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

“Till The Storm Passes By” from Mosie Lister, 1958.

In the dark of the midnight, Have I oft hid my face;

While the storm howls above me, And there's no hiding place;