Saturday, December 21, 2013

Stormy Weather No Problem for Jesus

You will probably receive two devotionals on Sunday. (Saturday's devo escaped my plans to put it on the blog!)

Here is Saturday's:



Can you believe this weather? This is officially the first day of winter and it’s 70 degrees at my house where and in just a few days we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ. There was thunder and lightning last night with at least one tornado warning in the area. Today is projected to be stormy as well.  People want to panic because they don’t have everything done and it’s the last Saturday before Christmas.
I am thinking of the Lord and His disciples in the boat during the storm. They were panicked. They were in the presence of God and yet when the storm arose they lost it. I see them scurrying around, batting down the hatches, pulling in the sails and wondering if they would even survive. They were upset that Jesus slept while they prepared and worried and planned their own demise.

The facts of their situation included their knowledge of storms. That’s about all they allowed themselves to think about. They were so caught up in the momentary problem that they couldn’t see anything else. They had walked with Jesus everywhere and had seen Him perform miracle after miracle and yet in their own stormy situation they couldn’t think straight.

Would they have been happier if Jesus had jumped up in a panic with them? Would they have been glad that He was helping prepare for the end? Of course not. They wanted Jesus to do something and He didn’t seem to be doing anything but sleep!

And we are there. At least some of us are. We’re in a boat of our own making, in the storm of our life and water is lapping at our throats. We’re tossed in the sea of troubles when we should be resting in His promises. But we think He’s sleeping. We think He doesn’t know we don’t have enough time, enough money, or enough presence of mind to make it. We’re in the storm of our life and we know we’re going to drown. Where is God when we need Him? It’s only a few days until we celebrate His birthday yet we don’t feel His presence at all. We’re in a panic. We don’t know what to do first or which way to go but this storm in our life is going to do us in.

Oh beloved, God knows what the weather is like at your house and in your heart. He knows the trouble you are facing. He knows it’s only a few days until everything is supposed to be just perfect and yet He cannot be found in your panic. It’s too loud. It’s deafening and the roar will only get louder…until you come and sit at His feet. He promises, whether it’s Christmas or not, to still the storm or get you through it. It’s not what He does that makes the difference nearly as much as simply His presence. No more babe in the manger, you are protected by the King of Kings! No more a crucified Christ, you are watched over by the Risen Lord! No more vacated Savior, you have the Holy Spirit residing in you! He’s not ignoring your storm, He’s making all things new for you. He’s not aloof, He’s living proof! He’s not away, He’s holding the enemy at bay. All the hopes and fears of all your years are satisfied in Christ.

Quit watching the storm and look instead to the wonderful reminders of God’s glory and grace all around you! Open up the Book of Books and read about you, your situation and your Savior. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can be assured He will get you through this storm and safely to shore to celebrate with Him forever!

Luke 8:24-25 The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then He asked them, “Where is your faith?”

Psalm 31:22 In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But You heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.

Psalm 121:4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.


Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

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