Let her drive
For reference of my thoughts about the situations we find ourselves in, you can look here:
It has been a long time since I posted anything and for those who were following this, I apologize. Our lives all take twists and turns. Sometimes things happen that we do not see coming or expect. This may be due to our "blindness" to what we are doing or because of others falling prey to a world that is working hard to destroy. Other times, God is working in our lives to make us more like Him and to do nothing more than trust Him (like we could do anything else?).
In Acts, Paul is sailing to a destination that God had planned for him. During the travels, he is warned of a sever, life threatening situation. His words of warning are ignored and they sail on. Due to this they fall into a storm that is greater than they can handle. They are in a life threatening situation that they are battling against to the best of their ability. They are doing all they can to survive, and it is not getting them anywhere. They perceive the writing on the wall that they are about to die. Paul informs them that God had spoken to him again and that they would loose the ship, but they would not loose a single soul. After heeding his words; they eat, lighten the ship, and let her drive. The ship is completely out of their control. They have subjected themselves to whatever the outcome will be. Fully trusting that what God said will happen.
In Matthew, the disciples are following the Lord. They are doing as He directed and find themselves in a dire situation. A sudden storm has arisen and they are about to (in their minds) perish. The Lord is there with them sleeping in the ship. They awake Him asking if he cares or not. He rebukes the storm and questions them on their faith. They of course a stunned at what they just saw happen.
These are true, actual events in history. They pertain to the physical realm, but how well they can mirror the spiritual realm or even "events" in our personal lives? We are all going through life and facing one storm or trial after another. As it is often said "if you are not in a storm you better prepare because one is coming". It sounds like a defeatist point of view or attitude, but it is the truth. Reality is that we are not changed for the better or worse without these challenges in life. In the calm of life we become comfortable or complacent to all that is happening. In our spiritual walk we stagnate.
Just like these two encounters from scripture, we choose to obey God and follow His plan or resist and attempt to do our own thing. We get to make the choice. What God wants for us is the best, but He gives us the free will to choose what we want or will do. Sometimes the choice we make has a rippling affect that will directly impact the lives of those around us (something to consider). We then "set sail" and head in the direction we have chosen.
A storm arises and we "panic". We start to work hard at correcting our direction. We do all that we can to continue to survive and come out unscathed. We look to escape and run from the terror that is bearing down on us. We hope to awake from a nightmare and find it was all a dream. We refuse to accept what is coming or all around us as being true. All for the preservation of what we think should be happening. We cry out to God for deliverance. We ask why is this happening? We struggle to see Gods hand moving and working.
My friend, I can only state what God says: "Peace be still" (Mark 4:39). Yes, I am aware that this references the storm, but does it not apply to us as well? Often In the Old Testament, God said to see what He was going to do and "...know that I am God." We need to calm ourselves and trust Him. Our panic causes us to loose sight of who He is and what He has done and can do. All that we see was created by Him. Our trial (storm) that was allowed into our life or the lives of our loved ones is completely under His control. The intensity of the storm sometimes is of our own doing. We resist His working in our life and the results of our choice becomes more severe as we choose the "short term" pleasure (Hebrews 11:25).
We must relinquish control of our life and let God do His work. We must "let the ship drive" and trust God with the outcome. Yes, we will be different on the other side. But as a follower of Christ, is that not what we want? To have Him conform us into the image of His son? To be the vessel that He wants to use in His way? We may loose friends, family, job, health, or life style. But if we are now closer to God than when it started and have a better relationship with our heavenly father; was it not worth it all?
Being in the midst of the storm really is hard, I know. But looking to God is all we can do. We have nothing in and of ourselves that can bring to bare the solution or power to overcome and survive. We must trust Him.
As it is said in a couple songs:
"God is to wise to be mistaken. God is to good to be unkind."
"When you can't trace His hand, when you cant see His plan. Trust His heart."
Hang in there. God's got this. People are praying for you. You will be okay on the other side, because He loves you and will never leave you (Hebrew 13:5).
Laterz...
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