Chaotic to Calm
Have you ever been in a situation that felt like the only thing that could happen next is destruction? Maybe you were scared and alone and you felt like the Lord wasn’t there to guide you out of the situation. Like he doesn’t seem to care what happens to you, or you feel like his presence is lacking. If that’s you, I hope that this blog encourages you. You are not alone. I and many others have felt that same exact way. We are right there with you, and so is God.
Mark 4:35-40 tells the story of Jesus calming the storm. “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ 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 his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
I’ve read this passage time and time again, but this time something stood out to me that never had before. It’s something simple, but reading it this time brought a new revelation. Jesus says, “Let us go over to the other side.” Jesus is fully man and fully God, which means he is all-knowing like God is. If he knows all, then he must have known that the storm was going to come at the exact time that they were going to cross the sea of Galilee. But what did he say? “Let us go to the OTHER SIDE.” Not “Let us try to make it even though we might drown.” Not “Let’s just go and see what happens.” No, he was sure that they would make it through. He led them there to test their faith.
All Jesus had to do in the midst of that storm was stand up and tell the waves to cease. “Quiet! Be still!” Just like that. In an instant everything went from chaotic to calm. He proved right then and there that he was faithful and trustworthy. If any of his disciples were doubting before, that moment changed everything. The next verse tells us that the disciples asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” And if that’s true, that he can calm the raging waters in the middle of the sea, then he can also calm whatever “storm” you come across.
Whatever you are walking through right now or will walk through in the future, I encourage you to remember and cling to this quote: “I can’t, but You can.” On our own, we cannot withstand the storm. We are not strong enough to enter the battle alone. BUT GOD IS. That is our hope and our security. We should be looking upward, not inward. We should be asking God to lead us, instead of trying to get through it all on our own. You are not in control, God is. Fear not what comes your way. Because God has been faithful in your past, you can trust that he is capable of what will come in your future.
Challenges:
Let go. Let go of your control. Let go of your doubts. Instead, cling to faith! Trust that God is good, and he will take care of you.
“I can’t, but you can.” Write this down! Somewhere you will see it every single day. It sounds so simple, but when we fully know and understand that truth, we will feel more freedom and security in the Lord.
Prayer. One of my challenges to you every week :) Because it’s that important! Invite God into your struggles and ask him to reveal to you the path you should take. My time with the Lord through prayer is the best part of my day. He is listening!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for every single person reading this right now. Thank you for their lives and all that you are doing through them right now. Lord, we thank you that you can calm any storm. That no matter what we are walking through, you are bigger. You are peace when we are anxious, you are joy when we are sad, you are strong when we are weak. You are our everything! Thank you that we can come to you always. May we live our lives for you every day, God. In Jesus’ name! Amen!