You and I are not alone in these questions...the closest followers of Jesus, his 12 disciples, had these same thoughts. Jesus told them the same thing He tells you and I..."I will never leave you or forsake you". It is James (one the 12 and half brother of Jesus) who tells us the testing of our faith produces patience...patience for enduring this storm and the storms to come.
There are two stories in the gospels that shed light on how Jesus operates in the trials, testing and storms in our daily lives. I want to point out that both times come after a great time of ministry, serving and being used by God. Thus showing us that, if anything, those of us who live a life of total submission will endure the hottest fire, but will also be refined to a priceless state...I guaranty the outcome outweighs the process on the other side of eternity!
The first illustration (Mark 4) comes after Jesus spends a very full day teaching the multitude and says to his disciples "let us go over to the other side" of the Sea of Galilee. If there was one thing the majority of his followers could do...it was sail a boat. So they set out and at some point in the crossing of the Sea of Galilee a furious storm came up. Now I want to point out something that might be overlooked (when storms come up in our own life we tend to focus inward and miss those around us) the disciples where not the only boat on the lake that night. The story tells us that "there were also other boats with him". The disciples make the claim to Jesus "don't you care if we drown?" but there where others in close proximity to them wondering if they too we're going to drown!
I enjoy the fact that while there is panic and mayhem in the bow of the boat, there is peace and rest in the stern of the same boat. Jesus wasn't concerned about the outcome...because he already told them the outcome. Jesus could rest in this trial that those on the lake were experiencing because of His very nature towards us.
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing" -- Zephaniah 3:17
Jesus wasn't concerned because he was with them...but just like those in the boat we want more from him than simply being with us. So they wake him and start blaming him and complaining to him...and Jesus, in gentle graciousness, calms the storm. Now because he loves them and us he rebukes and corrects their lack of faith in him. So too, we get in the middle of the storm and forget that "He will never leave us"...or that "all things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to his purposes"...or that "He who began this good work will be faithful to complete it". However, it is better for you and I to go through the storm with Jesus in faith than be rebuked by our Savior in the created calm.
The second illustration (Mark 6) comes after Jesus sends the disciples out on their first mission trip without him and right after Jesus feeds the 5,000. Remember great testing comes after great times of service...all to refine us more and more into the image of Jesus!
This time Jesus sends them into the boat without him but tells them to go on ahead. Meanwhile, He goes up on the mountainside to pray. I love this because it shows the true ministry and nature of Jesus...who lives to make intercession for us. Here, he is sitting on the mountainside but today, he is sitting on the righthand of God praying for you and I. Now though, he is not in the boat experiencing the trial with them...his eye is ever upon them. You and I are never out of the watchful eye of our Savior who is mighty to save. However, we see something interesting...though he sees them struggling in the mist of this storm he doesn't step in to rescue them. We also see that they are not asking for a created calm like the first time. Here is where the patience that James talks about comes into play.
Jesus let's them work at this and struggle in it for about 12 hours before appearing to come to their aid, but remember even though they (and we) could not see him, he was watching them and praying for them. Now after sometime of interceding for them, Jesus enters the storm, the same trial and test that his followers are experiencing...and joins them in it. Before they have a chance to realize it is him he calls and comforts "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid". He does the same for you and I...before we have a chance to see him, we hear him call out to us in the darkness to encourage and strengthen us. We hear that loving confident word of our Lord that drives out all fear and then he gets in the boat with us bringing peace and calm while everything else around might still be crashing all around us.
Just because we are followers of Jesus does not mean we are exempt from hard times. However, we like Jesus can rest in the Father's love for us. We can hold to the many promises and we know that we have not been given a Spirit of fear but of Power, Love and a Sound Mind. We know that Jesus is always watching over us and praying to Father for us...and even if he is not in the same boat with you right now, he will join you in your storm and bring peace and rest to your soul.
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