A Messy Deck

One day He got into a boat with his disciples, and He said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.  And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.  He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”   Luke 8:22-25

Sometimes being “in the moment” isn’t a good idea.  Jesus and His disciples are out in a boat and a huge storm brews.  The waves got so high the boat started filling with water.  “In the moment” the disciples were filled with fear.  They could have said, “No worries!  We have the Son of God on board.  He’ll simply speak and the storm will stop.”  That would suggest they deeply understood their companion and His competence.  But no, they focused on circumstances.  The storm was their fear-focus of the moment.  Later it would be the wrath of Herod’s boys.  They could have nudged Jesus and said, “Hey, the storm’s filling our boat, making a bit of a mess on deck.  Could You please calm it so we can clean up?”  Instead, they panicked.  They were sure they would sink.  They wondered why Jesus slept while they were “in crisis.”  They were living “in the moment” and it didn’t look good.

What is your current concern?  What if you focused more on who Jesus IS?  What if you shook His shoulder and said “Jesus, this issue is making a bit of a mess in my life.  Could you please rebuke the waves of my troubled heart so I can begin to clean up?  Because I know who you are, and am comforted you are in control.”

Believe before you see.