I am such a baby. Not a sweet smiling one like our grandson, Arthur, who meets life with delight, anticipation and open arms, but a whiny, oh woe is me, I-don’t-want-to-peek-out-of-the-covers-to-see-what-is-ahead, one. With what has been happening, if you’ve been following the blog, you might say, “Well, I can understand why.”
Your circumstances may even make you feel the same way. Either caught in an eddy that won’t let you move, or thrashing about in a swirling storm that’s holding you in an unrelenting vortex, it’s not a fun place to be. If you’re there with me, then honestly—I’m going to say it even though it may not be what either of us wants to hear—we really should rejoice because…
We are in good company.
We’re right there in the boat with the disciples. You know. Those faithless ones. Crying. Paralyzed by fear. Shaking Jesus awake with pleas of, “Don’t you see what is happening? See Mark 4:35-41:
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Here’s the good news though. Besides the fact that Jesus calms the waves and the wind, and the disciples wind up on land safe and sound, the story is not about them. Or us. It’s about Him.
It’s about Jesus.
His love. His power. His compassion. Even in the midst of the rebuke,
“Do you still have no faith?”
He didn’t/doesn’t berate or condemn them or us. What He does do for all of us is to show that our hearts do not fully grasp the depth of His love because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (See 1 John 4:18 ESV.)
I think that’s where we all land, at one time or another. In a place where Jesus is honing our hearts, showing us our weaknesses, so He can swoop in and be our strength. Look what He did in the disciples’ hearts and lives.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
The other amazing bit of good news is that He is the one doing the work to bring our hearts to rely and rest in Him. (See Philippians 2:13.)
No matter what we are in or what we are facing, we can still know joy even in the middle of tears.
Sometimes, that’s the best kind.
Praying God’s joy for ALL of us.
Heavenly Father, please give us joy in the deepest parts of our hearts. Let us look to You and know Your love even when everything seems to be crashing down all around. After all, what’s most important is that You know us. That we are Yours.
Kimberly
If you don’t know Jesus and would like to, start by reading in Matthew, John, or the book of Romans in the Bible. Before you begin, ask Him to reveal Himself to you as you read. Ask Him to give you a heart that wholeheartedly seeks Him, then ask Him to make His home there.
