George Muller said "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. there is no glory for God in that which is humanely possible Faith begins were man's power end."
I listened to a sermon a few weeks back which was talking about the day that Jesus was sleeping in the boat while the disciples struggled with the storm. Mark 4:38 reads: 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?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly still."
I've always found this passage hard to understand, why was Jesus asleep? Why did he let the disciples go through so much depth of feeling - so much fear and sense of danger before coming to their aid. Also, he did not jump to their aid, they had to wake him up!
The pastor discussed this and what he said really spoke to my soul. The pastor said that often in hard times we think - where is God in this? We can't see him and we feel alone. The pastor said that Jesus is right there with us, he is in our boat. The pastor said that it is often in those moments of complete desolation that we become acutely aware of our need for God. It is in that moment when you realise that there is nothing that you can physically do that you let go and let God. In the midst of our deepest darkest fears we are humbled enough to rely on God and that is when God can work His wonders.
What most amazes me about this is the patience that God has for us. He lies there in our boat, waiting for us to return to Him and admit our need for His strength, His love, His Spirit. What love is this? He never gives up on me..
I am loving Hawk Nelson's song, Oceans:
I want you as you are, not as you ought to be
Won't you lay down your guard and come to me
The shame that grips you now is crippling
It breaks my heart to see you suffering
Cause I am for you
I'm not against you
If you want to know
How far my love can go
Just how deep, just how wide
If want to see
How much you mean to me
Look at my hands, look at my side
If you could count the times I say you are forgiven
It's more than the drops in the ocean
Don't think you need to settle for a substitute
When I'm the only love that changes you
Open your heart
It's time that we start again
You are precious to the God of the universe! He would stoop down to make you great, He loves you!
Hang in there - in the midst of your troubles remember the One who sleeps in your boat. Reach out and wake Him up. Jesus is never far away. He loves us with a passion.
Keep strong in His strength.
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