Sometimes life is just stormy and everything seems to go wrong. I have a vivid memory from when I was 14. Now I love horse riding, and as a child horse riding lessons was one of my absolute favourite things in the world. There is just something about the rapport one has with a horse… If you are a rider you know what I am talking about, if you aren’t then it is almost impossible to explain it. Anyway, horse riding always cheered me up no matter how badly things went. Except not on this particular day. I had had a terrible day at school, but I came home hopeful that my riding lesson would cheer me up. Except this particular day went terribly. Perhaps my horse sensed my mood, or maybe he was just being difficult, but I ended up falling off a bunch of times and overall just did terribly. Then I came home, ran a bath, got side tracked and flooded the bathroom. All in all a fabulous day.
Where do we turn when life is like this? Because sometime it is days like this, sometimes it is seasons like this, and for some, life is like this. When all is chaos where do we turn? Let’s have a look.
Scripture: John 6:16-21 (ESV)
“When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”
After Jesus fed the five thousand, His disciples set off across the lake without Him. Now why they went without him, we don’t know, but as night fell, and a strong wind whipped up the waves. The disciples struggled against the storm. Suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the water toward them. Terrified, they didn’t recognise Him. But He said, "It is I; don't be afraid." They welcomed Him into the boat, and immediately they reached the shore.
Now we are most familiar with the story where Jesus speaks to the waves and calms the storm. But in this one it seems almost as if Jesus teleported them across the lake. Regardless the point is the same, the disciples were caught in a storm. They were fighting the forces of nature, something they obviously had no control over. But Jesus shows up. He sorts out the problem by demonstrating His power over creation. The disciples are reminded that Jesus is the king over creation.
But here is the thing. If Jesus is actually Lord over creation, and if God is actually sovereign over things, then it means that no matter what is happening to us, we can trust that he is in control. We might be falling off horses and flooding bathrooms, but Jesus is still Lord. He still loves us. And as Romans 8:28 reminds us, nothing can happen to us that isn’t growing us and helping us become more like Jesus. This story reminds us again that we can trust the Lord over the storm even in the midst of the storm.
Perhaps today he is saying to you: “Don’t be afraid, it’s me”.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, our lives are overwhelming sometimes. It sometimes feels like we are fighting against a storm about to sink. Help us to see you as the Lord over the storms. Help us to recognise your hand in the storm. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Today when you face a difficult situation, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how Jesus is present with you in this situation.
Are You Struggling Against Life's Storms?