Holding On To Hope: Trusting Through The Storm

Opening Scripture:

Mark 6:45–52 NLT

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

This is the second time that Jesus had rebuked a storm for the disciples… The first occurrence He was in the boat with them asleep.

Jesus sent the disciples ahead of them after he preached and fed the multitudes so that He could be alone with the Father in prayer

I believe that the disciples were also permitted to go ahead of Jesus to the other side of the lake so that their faith could be tested.

Jesus saw that they were in trouble and responded…

Jesus was hoping to pass them by… Could it be that He was hoping to pass them by to test their focus?

When they cried out for Mercy… When they cried out for help… Jesus provided reassurance for them NOT to be afraid for He was with them.

As Jesus entered in… Stepped into the midst of their situation (the boat) the storm stopped.

Waiting Out The Storm…

Isaiah 40:31 NLT

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

When a storm comes upon the horizon of our lives we are tempted to respond out of Fear…

Our Fear will have us in a stance of panic where we will try do something but end up not doing nothing…

The more we act our of fear we paralyze our faith… When our faith becomes paralyzed in that time we loose sight of God in the midst of our situation.

When something is going on we often times feel that we need to do something

BUT God teaches us through His word that sometimes the best response is to do absolutely NOTHING.

It can be hard to do nothing when it seems like everything is falling in on us at once…

It can be hard to do nothing when it seems like all of our resources have dried up and we don’t have what we think we need in order to be successful in life…

It can be hard to do nothing when the bills are due and we just lost our job

BUT God responds according to our Faith regardless of how small or how big it is.

When i decide to be still that I will come to know that He is God… That He is the great I Am… Whatever we need He will always make provision!

Worship In The Process of Waiting…

Romans 5:3–4 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

God permits the process of waiting to increase our patience and dependency upon Him and to expand/grow our faith.

In the midst of us waiting we can rejoice, we can praise, we can worship because God is already working it out on our behalf.

Worship is apart of the process…. When we choose to worship in the process of waiting we are declaring our faith

The declaration of our Faith… Our Trust… Our dependency upon God has the POWER to move mountains.

Problems and trials are apart of the process…

Even in our weaknesses Christ is glorified

Even when we can’t GOD always can!

Wait It Will Come…

Hebrews 10:36 NLT

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

We need patience in order to endure the trials… the hardship… the struggles of life…

The enemy wants us to give up.. he wants us to retreat… BUT God requires us to trust Him in the midst of the process…

As we wait we endure… patience + trust in God = endurance..

As we endure life’s battles we will see God fighting on our behalf giving us the victory because He can NEVER and WILL NEVER Fail!

As I continue to wait… As i grow in patience… As i continue to let God fight for be because I trust Him… He will make sure that every promise that He has made will come to pass in our lives BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL!!

Because you don’t see it yet doesn’t mean its not coming just could mean that you are in the midst of waiting…

Will you wait for Him?