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.
Memory Verse: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Psalms 46:1.
Look around you and take a pause… what do you see? What’s the atmosphere like around you like in this season? When was the last time the whole world was focused on one thing, all at the same time? Irrespective of the independence each country has, the whole world is united in purpose especially when trouble seem to be at its peak.
Some people are real planners, they have planned their next 20 years ahead and interestingly they seem to have almost an accurate forecast of things they achieve year on year, but that’s an uneasy but good part of the scenario. Looking at the other side of things, there are times those extreme planners experience the bad and the ugly because they cannot control life. Turbulent times surfaces and at the slightest blow of wind, they don’t only become partially destabilized, they literally get to a point of a crumbling world. They have planned so much ahead that they forget life is what God wants it to be, a mixture of battles and blessings.
The bible refers to the life of various people whom God used at various stages in life. When we see their lives, we realise they were only being celebrated as successful after winning battles. You don’t get medals for planning to play a football match, you get the medal after you have successfully faced the opponent on the field using every skill set you have to come out at the top. Having overcome the opponent then you are positioned for the medal.
Some seem to be living the dream as the rarely have any sort of trouble coming their way but even with people like that, there are still days of complete trouble when everything seem to be upside down. At those moment, the word of God becomes a blessing. It becomes the only thing we really hold on to.
Often, it’s easy to question why God is letting you go through so much, but in those times it’s important to remember Jesus was with His disciples on the boat at the time the storm started. This is a reminder that even as a Child of God, your life will go through stages of serious danger when everything seems like it may crumble, but in those times it’s important to remember the God you serve.
Yes, though the devil may be very dramatic in magnifying those issues, he does that to create fear in the lives of people and stagger their faith in God. While listening to one of the sermons by the General Overseer Pastor E.A. Adeboye, I got encouragement and reassurance from one of his statements. He said “If Jesus is on your boat, it will not sink”.
Though everything right now may seem like trouble at its peak, there is no doubt about that as there is fear spiking everywhere, but have you really stepped back for a minute to think “what’s God trying to use this time to do?” I want you to know that God permits everything in life for a reason and if He is letting you go through a phase in life then you are not to approach those challenges with fear. You are to walk through the fear, past the fear and focus on why God is permitting you to go through it and not bringing you out yet.
David went through trouble from his childhood, Joseph did too, Paul was not exempted and Jesus suffered when He was human. The confidence we have is that God is our refuge and strength no matter the level of trouble we are secured because we have God, psalm 46:1-3.
Christianity is not immunity from trouble but if you look up to God in times of trouble, no matter how serious it may be, He will strengthen you till you have achieved victory and overcome. Psalm 121.
PRAYERS:
- Thank you Lord for a beautiful morning and for your endless blessings
- Father forgive all my sins and help me to live right with you
- I receive the power to ride over storms and to stay afloat in torrid storms
- Empower me to stay strong when trouble reaches peak, deliver me from all adversities
- Thank you Lord for I will win souls to your kingdom by showing love to all around me
- In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
