God is in Your Boat

Let us go over to the other side. (Mark 4:35)

Take time to read Mark 4:35-41.

This passage of Scripture begins with 8 simple words.  “Let us go over to the other side.” There was really nothing complicated about those words.  Jesus wasn’t hiding anything from the disciples.  He wasn’t playing a trick on them.  He wasn’t asking them to understand a parable.  He was being very clear with His words.  They were going to get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.  Well, the disciples weren’t quite ready for the little adventure that would soon take place.

We see that not long after the boat set out to sea, a storm breaks out.  The waves are crashing into the boat.  The disciples become frantic.  They look at Jesus and see that He is sleeping.  What in the world is He doing?  He’s comfortable on His cushion and catching some Z’s.  You can take a look right there in verse 38.  Jesus had a cushion and He was resting away.  Do you ever feel like God is sleeping during the storms in your life?  Do you tend to do what the disciples did next?

They woke Him up!  They missed the opportunity of a lifetime!  They could have had the ride of their lives in that boat, but they missed it.  It gets even better!  They proceeded to ask a crazy question, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? (vs. 38)”  Does this sound familiar?  Have you asked God this question lately?  We take our eyes off of what God is doing and put our eyes on the circumstances of the storm.  The storm will always fool us into believing that we are drowning.  But why would Jesus allow the disciples to drown…  He has shared with them all that they are going to do for the Kingdom of God.  Their lives are not finished yet!  In essence, they have just begun to live out God’s promises.

If they couldn’t stop to see what God had promised them in their own lives, then maybe they should have stopped to remember all the miracles they had witnessed.  They had seen Jesus drive out evil spirits, heal a man with leprosy, heal a paralytic, heal the Centurion’s servant without even entering his home, raise a widow’s son, and so much more!  Did they really think that’s all Jesus had up His sleeve?

You see, fear paralyzes us and causes us to forget God’s faithfulness in our lives.  It is so important to write down how God has been faithful to you, so that every time a storm comes up in your life you can remember how God has come through for you!  I promise the Enemy will try to make you forget that God performs miracles and that He has promised you a life of abundance.  Oh, he will come and try to steal away every good thought you have ever had.  This is what the Word says about our Enemy…

“The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

The best thing we can do in a storm is brace ourselves and remember who is in the boat.  The One who promised life to the full is taking the ride with us.  Let’s take a look at His reaction to the storm!

Watch what Jesus does the moment He awakes!  He gets up and He rebukes the wind.  He says to the waves, “Quiet, be still! (vs. 39)”  Jesus had authority over creation and it further confirmed He was the Son of God.  Remember, God can still the waves and calm the winds in your life, in a moment.  But sometimes the storms are there to teach us something.  Remember, God is in your boat.  He’s not leaving you!  Take time to enjoy the ride.  Find out what God wants to teach you through it.  Embrace all that God has for you and don’t let go of His promises to be faithful to you!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-3)

Dear Father God, Thank You for reminding me that You are always with me through every storm.  You have never left me in the boat alone!  Help me to enjoy the ride!  Keep me prepared for every storm I will face in life and help me to always be grateful that You never let go!  May I continue to embrace every promise in Your Word and lean on the everlasting arms!

Thankful for the One who is in the Boat,