Jesus In The Storm With Us

We can’t seem to believe that He would allow a storm to teach us how to trust Him. We are never quite sure He is nearby when things really get rough. The ship Is now tossing. It appears to be sinking, winds are blowing. Everything Is going contrary and it seems all hope Is lost. The Bible says:

"And In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It Is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But stralghtway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it Is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:25-27).

WE MUST LEARN TO COPE WITH OUR FEARS.

Fear!

It is a destructive force that plagues each of us at certain times. Of course, some fear is normal. It helps us survive certain dangers.

For example, the fear of walking out in front of a car, or the fear of falling off a tall building-these are normal fears. They function for a noteworthy purpose.

let us look at a dictionary definition of fear: "an emotion excited by threatening evil or impending pain, accompanied by a desire to avoid or escape; apprehension; dread; uneasiness about a thing; horror; alarm; terror; dismay and fright." Most of us have known fear in these varying shades of meaning.

But fear is also a spiritual force. It can actually destroy us if we yield to it.

Fear is not of God. God is not the author of fear. God does not send fear upon His people. He made all things. He sustains all things. He holds the key to all things. He Is in charge of all things.

God Himself knows no fear. What could there be for Him to fear? The Word of God proves that He has nothing to fear. Therefore, His children really have nothing to fear. Note these words: "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" (Psalm 62:11). Jesus tells us, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matthew 28:18). Thus, why should we-His children-be afraid?

What I am trying to get across is that Jesus has done all these things before us and yet we do not really see Him In the storms of life. Many in the church family have seen God move in their lives In such a way that no one but God could have done it, yet we have trouble following Jesus all the time. We seem to forget that the Scriptures tell us, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the lord: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23). The psalmist goes on to say, "Though he fall, he shall, not be utterly cast down: for the lord upholdeth him with his hand" (v.24).

If the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord, and if God upholds the good man with His hand, then He must be here with us all the time! He has never been far away. We have never been out of His sight. When all seems to be going wrong, He yet has control.

We are so often like the disciples, not one of whom recognized Jesus when He came walking on the water. It could be that we believe and expect Jesus to be at the Samaritan well, or in the temple driving out the money changers. We expect Him one day to be at the right hand of the Father, to make us kings and priests. But never do we expect Him to be with us in the storm!