Matthew 8:23 – When (Jesus) got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
It is good to travel with Jesus in the boat which He chooses to use. He will then take us where He wants us to go and do what He wants us to do. Once we are with Him in the boat, He will decide on the course and the pace of travel. No matter what hindrances surprise us on the way, He will take us to the other side as He has planned and promised. These hindrances of storm, waves and wind are a surprise to us because we expect to have smooth sail when Jesus is with us. We do not desire such storms or other hindrance and delays. But Jesus has planned such experiences for us to learn lessons in trusting Him. He is the same with the storms or without the storms. The delays caused by the storms are part of His grand plan for us so that we would learn to put our absolute trust in Him no matter what comes our way. At the end of the journey we would realize that it was best travelling with Jesus and it was better to go through those storms to learn to trust Him to take us to our destination in spite of the storms. It is the most comforting thing for us to see Jesus in the boat at perfect rest and peace in a volatile environment. Even when the storms come, Jesus is unmoved because no matter how strong the storm, it would not deter Him from going forward to meet His eternal schedules. If we travel with Jesus, such experiences will be ours too. Today’s storms prepare us for greater challenges tomorrow. Jesus is with us today as our invisible travel companion to ease our tensions and anxieties because of the volatility of travelling through the unstable seas of life.
Dear reader, if you are with Him, you don’t need to know where you are going and what will confront you on the way. There might be strong wind, unruly storms and mighty waves to frighten you and take away your confidence. But at such times, it is wonderful to learn the big lesson of trust by watching Jesus at perfect rest and peace. Because He is with you in the boat, there is no scope for any doubt or confusion about your future. If you leave the navigation with Him, He will exercise full control over your life and take you through all the hindrances to the other side of the sea. As storms are not a hindrance for Jesus, they will not be a hindrance to you also. He will not leave you behind to sink in the sea. If you lack confidence and courage, He will strengthen you. He erects a firewall of protection around you to keep you unhurt on the way. As you travel along, He expects you to have simple faith to trust Him to take you forward. If you lack such simple faith, He will give it to you in the right measure at the right time provided you ask Him with a genuine desire. You should also have the willingness to go through various experiences He wants to take you through. Some are taken through fire, others go through flood or lion’s dens and still others are locked up in dungeons. Some go through drought or famine while and others experience storms and waves. But there is a guarantee that He will not let us go alone. He will be with us every step of the way and will take us through all the dark valleys of life to the other side. Today Jesus reassures us of His presence, grace, mercy and protection for us to travel with Him joyfully.
Isaiah 43:2 –
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Thought for TodayOur boat might shake in the storm, but our Lord who is with us in the boat will not be shaken or sunk and we will be secure with Him.
