Has anyone felt like they have been surfing the waves of discouragement the past few weeks?
Apart from the waves of grief that were crashing over me, I felt like I had lost my spark a little, and had just missed the mark. By the middle of that particular week, I ended up on a bit of a downward spiral.
It was in that moment of despair, I was reminded of Philippians 1:6 which says,
”“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
So, if you’re feeling a little flat and a little discouraged as you continue to discover your call and purpose, or even as you are walking in the call on your life, know that God is not done with you yet! I think that alone deserves a little **Praise Break**
When you’re going through those hard days, whether they be hard days because of discouragement or hard days because you are facing a trial or storm that you don’t think you can continue on in, remember these truths that are found in Mark 4:35-41.
”That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
1. Jesus has the power to calm your storm
We just need to get into His presence.
2. Jesus is the only one who can stop your storm
We cannot fix our own storm, we cannot fix our own heart. Unfortunately, as humans we love to be in control, but in reality only Jesus is in control. Only He has the power to stop the storms in our life, and though He does not bring the storm, He may need us to walk through it in order to learn something.
3. Jesus rebuked the storm
Jesus didn’t sit back and wait for the storm to pass. He didn’t politely ask it to stop. He REBUKED it. Jesus is right in the middle of the storm with us, and He will fight for us all to bring about His glory.
4. Jesus tells something “beyond natural control” to be still and it does
Will you trust Him with that storm that’s beyond your control today? If the uncontrollable wind and waves obeyed Him, then how much more should we?
5. Despite the circumstances going on around the disciples, Jesus expected them to still have faith
Did the disciples know who was with them? I mean, Jesus knew who He was and so He expected the disciples to have faith and to trust Him. Let’s remember that the disciples were human, so just as it can be hard for us to fully trust Jesus in our storm, it was the same for the disciples.
Friend, storms are a part of life. They will come, and sometimes there won’t be immediate fixes and answers to every storm we go through, but remember Jesus is always with you in them.
Have faith in Him, He will fight for you.- you need only to be still.
Let’s continue to sharpen one another with the Truth of God’s Word.
If you found this encouraging, make sure you leave a comment to let me know. I’d love to hear from you.
Have a beautifully blessed week,