Well, it’s a question the disciples asked when Jesus calmed a storm. Jesus is supposed to calm all the storms in my life, right?? Isn’t he supposed to make my life calm? Isn’t that His purpose in my life…
*Eye roll*
When the storm was raging, the disciples had fear, BUT when He stopped it, they experienced more fear wondering who He was!!??
Oh ye of little faith! Their faith was in the wrong place. It was in the storm, not in HIM. What is your faith in? HE wonders, is your faith in ME or is it in your circumstances...because storms are going to come and go ALL THE TIME.
Their faith was in what they understood…what THEY thought was best…not what JESUS thought was best.
I’m a huge fan of Jesus when He does what I think is best. Yes, He is the object of my faith in doing what I LOVE… He calmed the storm, BUT he then asked them where is your faith!? What about when HE doesn’t calm my storm!!? Then is my faith still in HIM?
Look at these FOUR passages about FAITH:
1. Isaiah 41:10: Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
It says FEAR NOT!! I will change your circumstances! NOOOOOO! HOWEVER< I will be WITH YOU. (BUT JESUS don’t you care? (I say) He says: FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU! OK, Well what are you going to do??? I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU! (through the storms).
He is not going to fix things but instead strengthen my INSIDES not fix my OUTSIDES (ouch)
2. Romans 8:28. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Can’t you do my purposes GOD? NO! He is doing HIS purposes.
3. Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
May the God of hope FILL YOU (KEY WORD: FILL!)! You may abound in hope! He does work in me (FIRST) so He could do work around me. I get filled with the joy/peace which looks totally different than my circumstances.
4. Proverbs 16:9: The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
Hey Lord..let’s go over there…..there’s lots of sun…beauty …let’s go there! Not the storm area. (THIS IS MY PLAN!! MY PURPOSES!!??) No, HE establishes our steps. The Lord wants to work IN US not in our circumstances.
He wants to calm the storm that the storm created. He wants to calm US not the surrounding storm. He wants us to be WITH HIM. We can’t become TOO independent. God’s purpose is to create DEPENDENT children (us!). If Jesus loved me, He would….no. Instead I say, Because Jesus loves me, I am FULLY KNOWN. FULLY LOVED. period.
They were filled with a GREAT FEAR once the storm was calm!? WHY!? Well, as humans, we want control. The group of fishermen had no way to control this storm. The CREATOR fixed it! THEY couldn’t. We need to ask, “WHO IS HE!?”
HE is my Lord. He is my Rock. He is my Savior. He is my Redeemer.
This was preached today by Rustin Russello at SBC> I have wanted Jesus to calm my storm for so long. I say WHY WHY WHY? Well, now I see. He wants me to know I am fully loved, fully known. He gets it. I am to change and grow THROUGH this storm. And so. I hear you, Lord and I love you. I repeat:
HE is my Lord. He is my Rock. He is my Savior. He is my Redeemer. I have faith in HIM. Not my circumstances. He will work in me through this time. AMEN!
AMEM AMEN AMEN.