by Philip Cook (in Costa Calida Chronicle, July 2023)
Matthew 8:23-27
23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Is Jesus in your boat? Many times in life we sail from day to day without realising that Jesus is in the boat of our lives.
Over the past few months my wife and I have experienced a time of wondering ‘Is God in our boat? If He is, why is he sleeping?’
Liz had felt unwell for a long time; this revealed a spinal tumour and required major surgery. Seeing Liz suffer made me cry out: ‘Where are you God?’ And he reminded me of the above passage.
When we are in great pain, it is hard to see the wood for the trees.
Jesus is always in our boat. He doesn’t panic. He is in control of our lives. He asks us to trust him and turn towards him.
The poem ‘Footprints in the Sand’ describes one set as belonging to us and the other set belonging to Jesus. When times get hard and painful, we only see one set of footprints, and we cry ‘Jesus, where are you?’ Then Jesus whispers to you: “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”
God allows storms within our lives; for us to understand that He is in the boat with us. Through these storms we learn about ourselves and who Jesus is in our lives.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
John 16:33b ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.’
We all go through valley experiences. If we allow him, he will lead us safely through the trials of lives.