Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4:38 NLT
When we read from the beginning of this story, we discover that the disciples ended up in the storm, not because they did something wrong but because Jesus told them to get in the boat. That whole day, Jesus stood on the shore teaching about the Kingdom of God in parables to tremendous crowds. As the sun was setting and the people began drifting towards their homes, Jesus asked the disciples to get in the boat. At this point Jesus is probably exhausted, and though He was God’s Son, He needed a nap. So, while the disciples manned the oars, Jesus lay down in the back of the boat and drifted off to sleep. Soon the wind picked up, clouds rolled in and before they knew it, they were in the middle of a storm. I picture the scene a bit like this:
Andrew: Hey Peter, He put you in charge. Why don’t you go back there and ask Him what to do.
Peter: No way! We can handle this bro and besides, Jesus needs his sleep.
John: Hey guys, the waves are coming in faster than I can bail them out. Let’s wake Him up!
Thomas: What’s the use? Jesus is a Rabbi, not a fisherman. I doubt He would be any help right now.
James: That’s it! I’m getting Jesus. If we don’t do something, we’re all going to drown!
Now the actual behind the scenes conversation may have been a little different, the outcome was the same. Somebody had to wake up Jesus before it was too late! Why do we wait for emergencies to wake up Jesus? Oh, I know that Jesus is always awake in Heaven. But what happens is that the Christ who lives inside us falls asleep, because we get so wrapped up in the busyness of our lives. The endless search for entertainment, comfort and success leaves very little space for Jesus Christ. Like the disciples, we think we are the professionals when it comes to sailing our own boats. We don’t want to bother Him, because we think that He must have more important things to do. Just like the disciples, we allow Jesus to doze in the back of the boat until it becomes a life-or-death situation, and we are about to drown. But Jesus is always there and we can come and ask for help at any time. Are you in a storm today? Is Jesus sleeping in your boat? Don’t be afraid to wake Him. He might correct us, He might even rebuke our attitudes and motives, but He will never allow us to drown. Jesus wants to command our hearts just as He commanded the wind and waves, and when He takes control, there is no storm in the universe that can sink our little boat!
Last Friday, Gena, who is one of our volunteers gave her testimony about how God has helped her deal with her daughter’s epilepsy. Her daughter Lindsey, who is just fourteen years old, already struggles with a non-verbal form of autism. But starting last year, that battle broke out on a second front, when Lindsey began experiencing seizures: some large, and some small. So far, they have run several tests, including an overnight study at a major hospital in our area. It is humbling to listen to how Gena talks about how God has helped her deal when the worst of these episodes come. She explains that there is no secret, it is all grace! Whether you have a family member dealing with any of these same issues, or if your struggles are in a completely different area, I think you will be encouraged, by what she has to say.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV
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