Life Spark: The best thing to do in a storm is to get Jesus in your boat. (John 6:16-21)
When it got dark, Jesus was still off by Himself, probably praying and processing the people’s response to His last miracle. The disciples grabbed their twelve baskets of bread and took off across the Sea of Galilee without Him. Unknowingly, they were rowing their way into the next miracle. The thing is, the miracle might involve fear because it might mean you have to experience something worse than you’ve experienced before.
Soon a strong wind began ferociously slapping the sea. Wet with sweat and sea, the soaked sailors hit the panic button. Maybe they were like me. I don’t like losing control (or the illusion of being in control). And I’m afraid of dying. Perhaps the only thing Woody Allen has ever said that I agree with is this: “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
Their fear expanded when they saw someone on the edge of darkness walking on the water. In just a few hours, they’d gone from a sunny, miraculous day in a meadow to a dark, terrifying night in a storm. Then, in fear’s high tide, they thought they saw a ghost. That’s when the ghost said to the superstitious sailors what God says hundreds of times in the Bible. “Don’t be afraid, I am here!” (John 6:20, NLT)
I would like to think my faith is strong enough to evict all fear from my life. Fear or faith. But sometimes it seems I can only muster up fear and faith, like David did. “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3, NIV) “I am afraid, but just talk to me and I will become less afraid and trust in you instead. Fear is bear-hugging my heart. I believe, help my unbelief.”
When the guys recognized the voice and form of Jesus, eyes of fear slowly began to become eyes of faith. “Then they were willing to take him into the boat …” (John 6:21, NIV) The best thing to do in a storm is to get Jesus in the boat. He won’t force His way in. You have to invite Him. And the thing is, when He comes in, He gets to be the one and only Captain. I’m a little bit OCD. I desperately want to be in control, at least until things are desperately out of control. I can think of several times in my life when it took a terrible storm to get me to the place where I took off the captain’s hat and gave it to Jesus.
Life-question: When was your last life storm? Did Jesus show up? Who is wearing the captain’s hat in your boat right now?