Who Is In Control?
Jesus and his disciples were in a boat going to the other side of the water. And as Jesus was down beneath resting, a wicked storm came upon them. And the storm was so furious that the disciples were convinced that they were going to capsize and all drown. And as the waves broke over the boat, and they were rapidly filling up with water, the disciples went down and woke Jesus up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Image courtesy of: jkirkhart35
Scripture:
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” – Mark 4:39
Observation/Application:
Isn’t this scenario still so true today? We are working hard, setting priorities, working on our goals, and making things happen. We finally get that new job, are making some decent money, are able to get that new car or that new place. We pick up some new clothes, some nice shoes or boots, we get our hair and nails done, are hitting the gym regular and are looking good, and we are feeling really good about ourselves. Our goal-setting and all of our planning and hard work is really starting to pay off.
And then the storm hits. We lose that special someone. Or that amazing job starts to turn sour, or worse yet through a sequence of events fully out of our control, we lose that job. Or we have to move from that place where we thought that we were always going to live. Or even after all that exercise and our best attempts to eat healthy, we get that bad doctor report. It we learn that everything that we thought that we had under control, isn’t in our control. We learn how fragile life can be, and we are humbled by life’s circumstances, and by life’s storms.
When we are steering the ship, when we are doing our planning, and making things happen, living life and charging after life and accomplishment and success, Jesus is at rest. But when we let Jesus steer the ship, when we release control to Him, when we cry out to Him, when we surrender control to Him, we allow God to turn things around for us, to calm the storms, and to find peace.
This doesn’t mean that God does not want us to take action, set goals, and to make things happen in our lives. On the contrary, the Bible says faith without works is dead. But what is important to remember is to have God at the center of it all. When he is at the center of it all, when he is at the wheel, when we allow God to direct our steps, and to guide our every action, our every word, and our every thought, we allow God to take control. And when God is in control, we can rest knowing that no problem, no situation, no disease, no bad doctor report, no financial trouble, no relationship trouble, no issue or problem whatsoever is too big for God our Father, creator of heaven and earth and everything in it!
Let us pray, and let God be at the center, and in control, not only during the storm, but at all times, and in all situations.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for you amazing Word. Help us to charge forward in life Lord, doing your good work, and keeping you at the center of it all. Bless the work of our hands Lord, and establish our plans. Shower us with your blessings Lord, and let our soil be fertile ground. Let your Word fall upon us and grow in us, and produce a harvest thirty, sixty, and one hundred-fold. We believe and receive all of your promise Lord, as we fully surrender to your Will. Thank you for all that you have done for me Lord, in spite of all that I have done. You know me Lord, and you love me anyway. We honor you and praise you, and seek your face. Guide our every step, our every word, and our every thought today, and always, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Image courtesy of: Curious Expeditions
Photo By jkirkhart35