In God’s will

Mark 4:35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

Jesus had been teaching the multitudes on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. His message was about the kingdom of God; God's rule and reign in the lives of those who put their faith in Him, and all the blessings that come with it. Then when evening had come Jesus called His disciples to get into their boat and cross over to the other side of the lake. It was then that a great windstorm arose. Not just a storm, but a “great" storm. It was so severe that the seasoned Galilean fishermen who grew up on this lake, were in fear for their lives. The boat began to fill up with water as it was pounded by the wind and the waves. They were quite literally scared to death.

Pause this scene for a moment, suspending the droplets of water and ask yourself this question (a question that needs to be understood by all those who will follow Jesus' leading): "Were the disciples in the will of God when this storm hit?” We all know what it is like to bring storms upon ourselves because of our poor choices. Because of sin in our lives. Sin complicates life and can bring about a whirlwind of confusion, hurt, fear, shame, and darkness. But in this particular case, the disciples were not out of God’s will. In fact, they were right smack dab in the center of God’s will. Jesus called them to cross over to the other side of the sea, and they were in the process of obeying that call when the storm came. So actually, they were in this situation because they were in the will of God. Interesting, because we tend to think that if we are doing what God wants us to do, that everything will be peaches and cream. Not so!

Just because we are experiencing a heavy storm in our lives does not automatically mean that we are in sin, have gotten out of God's will, or have upset the Lord somehow. We need to realize that sometimes it is just the opposite. We are facing difficulty because we have followed the Lord. So the next time you are facing life's challenges, ask yourself why. Is the storm a result of obedience or disobedience? If you have obeyed the Lord, then know that it is a test of your faith that is meant to bring God greater glory in your life. Trust the process. Keep your eyes on crossing over to the other side of the sea. Let your faith over-ride your fear.

Today's prayer thought: Lord, thank you for the opportunity to shine my light, especially in the midst of life’s darkness. Grant me greater faith that I might bring glory to You.