I am not a sailor and I can count on one hand how many times I've ever been on a boat, but in reading the Scriptures I have found that, as I am sailing through this life, Jesus is in my boat.
There is a story in the Bible about how the disciples took a trip across the lake with Jesus, when a storm suddenly began. "A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger." (Luke 8:24) The disciples were literally with Jesus on that boat. Jesus was with them, but had fallen asleep. "As they sailed, he fell asleep." (Luke 8: 22) The disciples did the only thing they could think of-to go to Jesus in fear and wake Him up! "Master, master, we're going to drown!" (Luke 8:24) Jesus awoke, and rebuked the winds and the water and everything became calm.
Many times I have had seasons of life in which I was simply sailing through calm waters. Everything was smooth and easy and I could see where I was going. There were no worries. I felt safe. And of course, on the flip side of that, I have had many seasons of life that came in like a brewing storm and took over my life. All of a sudden I was in the middle of what felt like a tsunami. Winds blowing, boat rocking, confusion, fear gripping my heart and I no longer could see Jesus. I would try to manage life, but in utter desperation I would yell out, "GOD HELP ME!"
Presently I am not in a storm. I am not afraid or worried. I have what may even be calm waters, but just the other day in prayer the Lord gave me a vision of myself on a boat, with the storms of life, whipping around me. In the vision I was worrying, and afraid. I, too, saw Jesus sleeping. I saw myself about to lunge towards him to frantically wake Him up from His slumber, when I stopped and thought, Jesus isn't sleeping. It feels like He's sleeping, but He is God and God never sleeps. The storm is real. The storm is scary. I feel alone and afraid, but the truth is God, Jesus, is IN my boat.
The vision was so powerful, but I had to ask God, "What storm am I in?" Without a word I saw all the things I am worried about flash up in my mind. I'm worried about my husband and his job. I'm worried about our finances. I'm worried about my children and the great, enormous responsibility I have been given to raise them to love God and follow Him. The fear of failing as their homeschooling teacher. The fear and frustration that my children's books will never get published. I worry and worry and worry. And yes, with all of these worries, I feel alone, in the dark, on a boat, out in the great, deep waters. I didn't realize how alone I felt. I didn't realize that I even thought Jesus was 'asleep.' But I have felt it. Many times crying out to God for a raise, or wisdom with the children and I just felt alone. The good news is, rather, the great news is, I may feel alone, BUT the truth is I am not. The Scriptures reads, "they were in great danger." The disciples felt they were in 'great danger' but Jesus, Himself, was in the boat-what possible danger could they really be in? None. Well, Jesus is with me too. In Matthew 1:22-23 it says, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). God is with me, He is in my boat. He has everything under control. He can see my future and He knows where I am going and the perfect timing of it all. I need to be at peace as I sail through life. I need to lay down right next to Jesus in that boat and rest in Him. I need to trust that He really does know what is best for me, my husband and my children. I need to surrender all these worries.
I'll tell you honestly that one of my favorite Scriptures is found in Matthew chapter six where it talks about, do not worry! I'll never forget it-it was about twenty-two years ago when I read it for the first time. The Bible actually says, "Do not worry." That is all I did back then-worry (and apparently, I still do!) Jesus is bigger than the storm. He controls the storm! He is our God. He is our brother, our Father, our Holy Spirit in one. He cares for us and our life and keeping us safe, more than we do. He sees the enemy before we do and He's out there fighting for us and yet in all that He sees, He can rest. We need, I need, to rest beside Jesus and trust Him.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ' What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)
Lord Jesus, I surrender all my worries to you. I trust that you are with me. I trust that you will guide me. I believe through faith that you will protect my heart and lead me into the plan you have for me. Help me to be patient. Help me not take control when things seem to be going slow or when I feel like you are sleeping in the boat. Send your Holy Spirit to remind me of the truth of your Word. I love you and give you my life. Yours forever...
There is a story in the Bible about how the disciples took a trip across the lake with Jesus, when a storm suddenly began. "A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger." (Luke 8:24) The disciples were literally with Jesus on that boat. Jesus was with them, but had fallen asleep. "As they sailed, he fell asleep." (Luke 8: 22) The disciples did the only thing they could think of-to go to Jesus in fear and wake Him up! "Master, master, we're going to drown!" (Luke 8:24) Jesus awoke, and rebuked the winds and the water and everything became calm.
Many times I have had seasons of life in which I was simply sailing through calm waters. Everything was smooth and easy and I could see where I was going. There were no worries. I felt safe. And of course, on the flip side of that, I have had many seasons of life that came in like a brewing storm and took over my life. All of a sudden I was in the middle of what felt like a tsunami. Winds blowing, boat rocking, confusion, fear gripping my heart and I no longer could see Jesus. I would try to manage life, but in utter desperation I would yell out, "GOD HELP ME!"
Presently I am not in a storm. I am not afraid or worried. I have what may even be calm waters, but just the other day in prayer the Lord gave me a vision of myself on a boat, with the storms of life, whipping around me. In the vision I was worrying, and afraid. I, too, saw Jesus sleeping. I saw myself about to lunge towards him to frantically wake Him up from His slumber, when I stopped and thought, Jesus isn't sleeping. It feels like He's sleeping, but He is God and God never sleeps. The storm is real. The storm is scary. I feel alone and afraid, but the truth is God, Jesus, is IN my boat.
The vision was so powerful, but I had to ask God, "What storm am I in?" Without a word I saw all the things I am worried about flash up in my mind. I'm worried about my husband and his job. I'm worried about our finances. I'm worried about my children and the great, enormous responsibility I have been given to raise them to love God and follow Him. The fear of failing as their homeschooling teacher. The fear and frustration that my children's books will never get published. I worry and worry and worry. And yes, with all of these worries, I feel alone, in the dark, on a boat, out in the great, deep waters. I didn't realize how alone I felt. I didn't realize that I even thought Jesus was 'asleep.' But I have felt it. Many times crying out to God for a raise, or wisdom with the children and I just felt alone. The good news is, rather, the great news is, I may feel alone, BUT the truth is I am not. The Scriptures reads, "they were in great danger." The disciples felt they were in 'great danger' but Jesus, Himself, was in the boat-what possible danger could they really be in? None. Well, Jesus is with me too. In Matthew 1:22-23 it says, "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). God is with me, He is in my boat. He has everything under control. He can see my future and He knows where I am going and the perfect timing of it all. I need to be at peace as I sail through life. I need to lay down right next to Jesus in that boat and rest in Him. I need to trust that He really does know what is best for me, my husband and my children. I need to surrender all these worries.
I'll tell you honestly that one of my favorite Scriptures is found in Matthew chapter six where it talks about, do not worry! I'll never forget it-it was about twenty-two years ago when I read it for the first time. The Bible actually says, "Do not worry." That is all I did back then-worry (and apparently, I still do!) Jesus is bigger than the storm. He controls the storm! He is our God. He is our brother, our Father, our Holy Spirit in one. He cares for us and our life and keeping us safe, more than we do. He sees the enemy before we do and He's out there fighting for us and yet in all that He sees, He can rest. We need, I need, to rest beside Jesus and trust Him.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ' What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:25-34)
Lord Jesus, I surrender all my worries to you. I trust that you are with me. I trust that you will guide me. I believe through faith that you will protect my heart and lead me into the plan you have for me. Help me to be patient. Help me not take control when things seem to be going slow or when I feel like you are sleeping in the boat. Send your Holy Spirit to remind me of the truth of your Word. I love you and give you my life. Yours forever...
This is really good. It's like God spoke through you. I was just praying earlier today how I felt so alone.. How my life was pure chaos and God was just, well, sleeping.. You've put it into a different perspective. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI am so very blessed, that you were blessed =)
ReplyDeleteGod is amazing...He tells us in His word that He will never leave us, and yet we forget, loose faith, get scared. He IS with us- that is our hope. Many blessings of Joy as you come through this time. Thank you for sharing =)