I find it interesting that for many years I had not paid particular attention to this sentence in the account of Jesus calming the storm. (One account is found in Mark 4:35-41)
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Mark 4:35b (NIV)
It's got me thinking. Jesus instructed that they move to different ground, knowing very well that a storm would meet them before they got there. He asked them to go, but He didn't ask them to go alone. He asked that they join Him.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
An invitation to walk with Him according to His plan...
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Sometimes, like the disciples who panicked at the peak of the storm, when there are troubles it feels like God is somewhere else, not that concerned, remote controlling my life. But the thing is, He is there with me. Right there, it's an us thing, not a me thing.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
So yes, He may be 'sleeping' at the peak of my storm. I may not see Him help me empty the boat of the waters that fill it up, or steer the rudder to escape the gigantic waves. It may feel like He's gone quiet, determined not to comfort or encourage me. I may forget He Who asked us to go is not only capable but also around (right there with me) to end my torment at the right moment, His moment.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
So today, before I meet any storm, before I move to any other ground, I ask that I may hear His voice clearly. I ask that I hear Him telling me where WE should go, because I know that with His lead WE can go over to the other side.
That day
when evening came, he said
to his disciples,
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind,
they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat.
There were also other boats with him.
A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat,
so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern,
sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him
and said to him,
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up,
rebuked the wind
and said to the waves,
“Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples,
“Why are you
so afraid?
Do you still
have no faith?”
They were terrified
and asked each other,
“Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
“LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.”
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Mark 4:35b (NIV)
It's got me thinking. Jesus instructed that they move to different ground, knowing very well that a storm would meet them before they got there. He asked them to go, but He didn't ask them to go alone. He asked that they join Him.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
An invitation to walk with Him according to His plan...
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Sometimes, like the disciples who panicked at the peak of the storm, when there are troubles it feels like God is somewhere else, not that concerned, remote controlling my life. But the thing is, He is there with me. Right there, it's an us thing, not a me thing.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
So yes, He may be 'sleeping' at the peak of my storm. I may not see Him help me empty the boat of the waters that fill it up, or steer the rudder to escape the gigantic waves. It may feel like He's gone quiet, determined not to comfort or encourage me. I may forget He Who asked us to go is not only capable but also around (right there with me) to end my torment at the right moment, His moment.
“Let us go over to the other side.”
So today, before I meet any storm, before I move to any other ground, I ask that I may hear His voice clearly. I ask that I hear Him telling me where WE should go, because I know that with His lead WE can go over to the other side.
That day
when evening came, he said
to his disciples,
“Let us go over to the other side.”
Leaving the crowd behind,
they took him along,
just as he was, in the boat.
There were also other boats with him.
A furious squall came up,
and the waves broke over the boat,
so that it was nearly swamped.
Jesus was in the stern,
sleeping on a cushion.
The disciples woke him
and said to him,
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up,
rebuked the wind
and said to the waves,
“Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples,
“Why are you
so afraid?
Do you still
have no faith?”
They were terrified
and asked each other,
“Who is this?
Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
“LET US GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.”
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