I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end.
I Am Found In You
by
Steven Curtis Chapman
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 NIV
We read this verse and we think, "Duh, Jesus was in the boat. Of course He was going to calm the storm. He had so much more ministry ahead of Him. He had to endure the cross for the payment of our sin debt. That is why He came. It wasn't His time to die, so He had to calm the storm."
That makes perfect sense to us now, on the other side of the storm, but it didn't make sense to the disciples in the middle of the storm. They thought they were being obedient to Christ. They were just doing what He told them to do. Now, along comes this furious squall about to wreck the boat and their lives and all they can think about is getting Jesus to help bail water! Isn't that what happens in our life when storms come our way?
What was Christ doing when He made the disciples get into the boat, and what was God doing when He sent the storm on the water? He (God the Father and God the Son) was teaching them to trust in Him!
If you find yourself in the midst of a major storm, it may be helpful to know a few things. First, just being in the storm doesn't mean you aren't in the center of God's will for your life. The disciples were. They were faithfully serving Him, going where He told them to go, and yet the storm came upon them quickly.
Second, God reacts more times than not with surprises in life. Throughout scripture, God seemed to bring "surprises" on His people. Remember right after the Israelites left captivity in Egypt, God changed Pharaoh's heart and he sent a major army after the Israelites. When David was called to be king, God allowed Saul to chase him, and nearly kill him. David spent a great deal of time in fear. When Paul fell on his face before the Lord, giving his life completely to Him, he found himself being persecuted wherever he went. Each of these men were "surprised" by God, and yet they were right where God wanted them to be.
God does bring surprises to His people. It is one of His ways of teaching us. His ways are not our ways and yet He always has our best interest at heart, even in the "surprises".
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