"Have you ever gone through chaos or suffering in your personal life or observed it in the world and said to yourself, “Where is God?” This question rises based on what we see and feel from our limited human perspective. However, just as we have a question for God, He has one for us too."
The chaos and suffering in our personal life and world can lead some to say, “Where is God?”, but this is what we see with our human understanding. God sees the same thing we do, but from a different perspective and greater understanding. And just as we have questions for Him, He has a question for us.
Jesus’ own disciples felt this way once when they were facing death on the high seas. Once after a long but fruitful day of ministry to people, Jesus and His disciples climbed into a boat to cross the sea. They pushed out and settled in as they rowed to their destination. Some of the disciples, due to their fishing experience, knew how to navigate the waters well, so were at complete ease on the waters. Shortly after they were on their way, Jesus laid down and fell fast asleep.
Very soon however, the winds picked up and they found themselves in the middle of a full-blown storm. The wind speeds were high and created large waves that crashed down on their boat. As they began taking on water, the experienced seamen became fearful their lives might be lost at sea.
Meanwhile, Jesus was unfazed, and continued in a deep sleep. His disciples, agitated and filled with fear, angrily awoke Him saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
Jesus then stood, looked out on the stormy sea and spoke firmly and directly to the wind and waves, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk. 4:39) And immediately the winds calmed and the waters became still. The disciples stood in amazement and looked with astonishment at each other saying, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mk. 4:41)
Jesus’ own disciples felt this way once when they were facing death on the high seas. Once after a long but fruitful day of ministry to people, Jesus and His disciples climbed into a boat to cross the sea. They pushed out and settled in as they rowed to their destination. Some of the disciples, due to their fishing experience, knew how to navigate the waters well, so were at complete ease on the waters. Shortly after they were on their way, Jesus laid down and fell fast asleep.
Very soon however, the winds picked up and they found themselves in the middle of a full-blown storm. The wind speeds were high and created large waves that crashed down on their boat. As they began taking on water, the experienced seamen became fearful their lives might be lost at sea.
Meanwhile, Jesus was unfazed, and continued in a deep sleep. His disciples, agitated and filled with fear, angrily awoke Him saying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
Jesus then stood, looked out on the stormy sea and spoke firmly and directly to the wind and waves, “Peace! Be still!” (Mk. 4:39) And immediately the winds calmed and the waters became still. The disciples stood in amazement and looked with astonishment at each other saying, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mk. 4:41)
When the disciples awoke Jesus, they had a question for him, now Jesus had a question for them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mk. 4:40)
Their eyes were fixated on the storm and they became controlled by their emotions of panic, fear and doubt. They lost all sense of reason. With Jesus, the Son of God, physically there on the boat, did they really think Jesus and all of them were going to drown?
Jesus’ question was to bring a sense of reason, not just peace, back to their panic-stricken minds. The crisis revealed who Jesus is and how He can be trusted, even in times of overwhelming trial and suffering. He showed how He is not a mere man, but God in human form. And as such, He has power over nature, the devil and his demons, sickness, death and even evil itself. He can simply speak and these powers must submit and obey Him because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Which then leads Jesus to rightly ask all of us, “Since I am Lord over all. Why are you so afraid and have no faith in me?”
Like the disciples, in the midst of the storms of life, we can have some of those hard questions. “Why God?” “Where are you God?” “Don’t you care God?” We look at the evil, injustice, chaos, pain, tragedy, heartache and from our human understanding we cry out. Then Jesus responds, “I am here. Won’t you trust me?” But to trust, means we have to let go of whatever we are clinging to and turn to Christ. The disciples had to let go of their fear and panic and grab ahold of Jesus.
Christ is worthy of our trust. He died and rose again as yet another sign to show you who He is. The King of King and Lord of Lords. What are you clinging to? Let go and yield to the Savior of your life and soul. He is above all and He is there, wherever you are. He is waiting.
A prayer for you – Lord God, for those who are gripped by a storm right now. Open their eyes so they can see you. In the midst of the suffering, evil and pain, you are there. Speak peace to them and may they receive the freedom and life you died to bring them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Their eyes were fixated on the storm and they became controlled by their emotions of panic, fear and doubt. They lost all sense of reason. With Jesus, the Son of God, physically there on the boat, did they really think Jesus and all of them were going to drown?
Jesus’ question was to bring a sense of reason, not just peace, back to their panic-stricken minds. The crisis revealed who Jesus is and how He can be trusted, even in times of overwhelming trial and suffering. He showed how He is not a mere man, but God in human form. And as such, He has power over nature, the devil and his demons, sickness, death and even evil itself. He can simply speak and these powers must submit and obey Him because He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Which then leads Jesus to rightly ask all of us, “Since I am Lord over all. Why are you so afraid and have no faith in me?”
Like the disciples, in the midst of the storms of life, we can have some of those hard questions. “Why God?” “Where are you God?” “Don’t you care God?” We look at the evil, injustice, chaos, pain, tragedy, heartache and from our human understanding we cry out. Then Jesus responds, “I am here. Won’t you trust me?” But to trust, means we have to let go of whatever we are clinging to and turn to Christ. The disciples had to let go of their fear and panic and grab ahold of Jesus.
Christ is worthy of our trust. He died and rose again as yet another sign to show you who He is. The King of King and Lord of Lords. What are you clinging to? Let go and yield to the Savior of your life and soul. He is above all and He is there, wherever you are. He is waiting.
A prayer for you – Lord God, for those who are gripped by a storm right now. Open their eyes so they can see you. In the midst of the suffering, evil and pain, you are there. Speak peace to them and may they receive the freedom and life you died to bring them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
No comments:
Post a Comment