Jesus Is In The Boat!

“For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment.” Colossians 1:17 (MSG)

The battering waves of life sometimes feel overwhelming, but in times like these we can be comforted by the fact that Jesus is with us, and He is in control! The Gospels recount the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee. A storm suddenly appears and threatens to capsize the boat. Mark describes it like this: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” (Mark 4:37 NIV) We learn that the disciples panic and are not happy to find Jesus sleeping through the storm! “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” they ask. (Mark 4:38 NIV) But Jesus is in control:

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40 NIV)

What rises suddenly and can become violent does not have to leave us in despair. Jesus can easily calm our storms or calm our hearts while He carries us through them! Let’s think about the times when we face painful or frightening circumstances. As humans, we are prone to panic. Our proverbial boat seems ill-equipped for the encroaching waves. We see rising water and no way out. Fear sets in. People around us are screaming and praying. We look around and we don’t see Jesus. Where is He? We find him sleeping soundly, unfazed by the commotion. We may be angry or astounded. We may react like the disciples, asking Jesus if He cares that we might drown!

But, just like the disciples learned, even when things seem hopeless, as children of God, we ALWAYS have HOPE! The world is dark: We are inundated with bad news. We may have financial stress, health issues, or relational pain in our lives. We may be praying for people or circumstances but can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. In these moments, we have to remember that JESUS IS IN THE BOAT. We have to keep our eyes on GOD and not on the problem. If we stay focused on Him—staying in His word and calling out to Him—He will calm our fears and guide us through life’s storms.

How can we pray for you today?