Is God in Your Boat?

~~~Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19~~~ (Psalm) Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 ~~~ 

~~~ Mark 4:35-41 ~~~

The disciples followed Jesus into the boat...

a boat that belonged to one of them.

They followed him into a familiar space 

which is often not the case.

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.

Jesus was with them in this familiar place 

when a violent storm arose.

So many times I heard asked, 

'Why would God allow ___ or ___ to happen?'

But here he is leading the way into the boat...

into the waters they had fished in many times.

Is God in your boat of life?

Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,

so that the boat was being swamped by waves;

Jesus was there with them but still

 the storm descended upon them.

Why did he not wake up immediately?

Jesus was asleep.

They came and woke him, saying,

“Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Jesus waited for them to come to him.

He was awakened by their desperate cries for help.

Their cries rose above the stormy winds.

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

Perishing is a strong word...this was a violent storm...

they were in a fragile vessel on the open waters.

Perish...to suffer death in a violent, sudden way...

complete and utter destruction.

He said to them,  “Why are you terrified?

Do you not yet have faith?”

Jesus calmly responds to their terror 

with questions about their faith.

He was by their side...in their boat...

a place they had been together many times before,

but they were still afraid for their life.

Trust the Lord in all things great and small, good and bad.

Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,

and there was great calm.

Have you ever seen the waters completely still?

A 'great calm' on the water reflects the surrounding

beauty and the blue sky above.

It is during the violent storms in life that we are faced

with the depth of our faith and the trust we have in God.

Is your faith strong enough?

How will you know if it is never put to the test?

Being put to the test is also and opportunity

 for God to Bless us.

~~~Peace~~~