A couple of weeks ago, my pastor did a sermon on surviving the storm. He actually named the sermon: Peace! Be Still. His sermon was centered around this passage.
Mark 4:35-41
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 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?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
I have a hard time letting go of my worries. You see, I am in the midst of a storm. There have been some clues on recent posts, but I have not really come out and told all the logistics. Unfortunately, my contract is ending with my employer. The past four years have been an amazing journey. One I would never want to change or do without. My job has been a true happiness in my life and brought us through so much turmoil in our lives when my husband was laid off from his job.
The verse: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” really struck a chord with me. The tears were flowing once again because it was like God knew I needed our Pastor to say those specific words right to me. My heart needed to open wide and receive those words. My personality seems to be a worry wart by nature. I am learning more and more though, worrying will get us no where. Self-pity will just leave us spinning in our tracks. We have to weather the storm. I feel God will allow storms in our lives to activate our personal faith. When the going gets tough, don’t most people turn back to God? We shouldn’t let our relationship with God get dry and only come to him in tough times. I will admit, I am guilty of this and working hard to overcome that negative aspect.
God is good and there is a reason for everything. I will weather this storm and become a better person because of surviving it. I just want to have more patience. God does not work on my timing. He works on his timing. The planner in me really struggles as I want to know how I will put food on the table. It is possible that I am going to go back into the freelance world. Being from a mountain town, there are not a lot of jobs to choose from here unfortunately. I love working in media and helping companies so it may be the direction God is leading me back into. I know one thing, I will not rush things and just let him guide me. Patience, no worrying and having faith are three things that will get me through this storm.
