|
|
Christian Indie Radio
GetChristianMusic
Solid Walnut Music
|
|
|
|
|
|
Devotionals
|
|
Cartoons
Culture
Family
Games
Health
Homeschooling
Humor
Inspiration
Kids
Men
Ministry
Parenting
Poetry
Teens
Women
|
|
Statement of Faith
Contact Us
|
|
|
|
Into the Storm
by Steve Troxel (Steve's bio)
[Note: If you'd like to read more from Steve, be sure to visit God's Daily Word.]
Send this page to a friend
Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish: "Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side." (Matthew 14:22). The disciples began to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to "strain against the oars." (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night and after already rowing about three and a half miles, (John 6:19), they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves.
Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had heard clearly and obeyed, but were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continues as Jesus walks on the water, calls Peter to join Him and then miraculously calms the storm. But couldn't the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel?
This wasn't the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: "The disciples went and woke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!'" (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other "What kind of man is this?" (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, Jesus was an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand.
Matthew 14:33
"Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God.'"
As was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself to us - for the purpose of drawing us closer. For it's in the storms where we see God's love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. "These {storms} have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:7).
Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son, enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. So let's learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let's learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let's praise Him - even when we're sent into the storm.
Copyright 2001, Steve Troxel. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Steve Troxel: Steve Troxel is the President of God's Daily Word Ministries. Steve was trained as an Electrical Engineer and received his PhD in 1994. After working as a researcher in a laser laboratory for several years, Steve felt the call from God to leave his trained profession and enter into full-time ministry. His devotionals are now sent around the world via email as well as distributed in book format. More information about this ministry as will as a "sign-up" page can be found at: http://www.godsdailyword.org |
Send this page to a friend: