Mustard Seed Thoughts : Surprise, Part 4

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

Surprise, Part 4

By: Ron Edmondson Thursday, February 08, 2001

He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40 NIV

When God sends surprises in our life, He is doing so that He might strengthen our dependence on Him.

Jesus had been molding the disciples. He wanted them to have complete trust in Him. He had called them out of their "normal" lives and asked them to totally surrender to His will. They were acting upon this request when Jesus asked them to get into the boat and go to the other side of the lake. When the storm came, the disciples were "surprised".

Perhaps the major reason God allows the surprises of life to come our way, the times that cause us to grip our chair of life and hold on for dear life, is that we might see God fully for who He is and learn to trust in Him. I don't know about you, but when everything is going well in my life, when there are no heavy storms, I tend to get confident. I pray less. I take chances. I lean a little further from the straight and narrow path.

The storms of life take me straight to the throne of God's grace, begging for His hand of mercy! When the tough times come, I realize more than ever that I need my Jesus! I want Him to come out of the "stern of the boat" and start calming the storm! I recognize my insufficiency when He is all I have.

The storms cause us to see Jesus for the power He has in our weakness. They help us to see that He has equipped us, not with our own might, but with the awesome ability to draw from the Water of Life, the strength of the Almighty King of kings and Lord of lords!

The surprises of life draw us closer to Him! Praise God today for the storm that is making you more like Jesus!

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