Live Oak —
One night the disciples of Jesus were trying to row their boat across the lake, but a storm came from nowhere, and they thought they were going to drown. Wind, rain, waves and lightening were all coming against people who were just trying to obey Jesus! He was the one who told them to go to the other side. Remember, just because you’re going through it, doesn’t mean you’re not in the will of God. It often means the opposite.
These men just thought they were afraid of the weather. Suddenly, they saw something that turned the roar of the storm into background noise. The glowing figure of a man seemed to be gliding on the water toward them! They thought it was a ghost. Maybe a spirit was coming to pull them down to the bottom of the lake.
But it was Jesus!
John 6:20b “It is I; don’t be afraid.”
Notice what Jesus doesn't say: Jesus doesn’t say, “I have the latest NOAA weather report, so don’t be afraid!” He doesn’t say, “There’s a shallow spot right over here, so don’t be afraid!” “You're almost to the other side, so don’t be afraid!”
That's What people will do. They will try to minimize the storm. Maybe they’ll ignore the storm: "Every cloud has a silver lining!" “The sun will come out tomorrow!” “It’s always darkest just before you drown... I mean just before the dawn!” We've all been conveyers of cold comfort. Fortunately, that’s not how God encourages.
God doesn't minimize the storm. God maximizes Himself!
He doesn't say,
“It's not as bad as you thought so don't be afraid!”
“It looks like it's clearing up, so don't be afraid!”
“You're almost to the other side, so don't be afraid!”
Jesus says, “It is I - all the reason you need to not be afraid.”
“The storm is bad, but it is I! So don’t be afraid!”
“You're not getting any closer to land, but it is I! So don’t be afraid!”
“The water is coming over into the boat but it is I! So don’t be afraid!”
He is bigger than your storm, greater than any distance and he can keep the most hopeless situation not only floating, but sailing!
Don't try to minimize your storm. Maximize your God!
Pastor John Whittington
Lighthouse Christian Center
Mayo, FL
www.lccmayo.com
Religion columns
March 9, 2012
Freedom is Here: “It is I; Don’t Be Afraid!”
- Religion columns
-
-
The church escapes the tribulation
The church escapes the tribulation
-
Freedom is Here
A new command
-
Heart Matters
Heart Matters
-
Freedom is Here
Fruit inspection
-
The filling of the Holy Spirit - Part 3
The filling of the Holy Spirit - Part 3
-
Heart Matters
Heart Matters
-
Being filled with the Holy Spirit - Part 2
Being filled with the Holy Spirit - Part 2
-
Freedom is Here
Naming rights
-
Heart Matters
Heart Matters
-
Being filled with the spirit - Part 1
Being filled with the spirit - Part 1
- More Religion columns Headlines
-
The church escapes the tribulation
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
