Navigate Troubled Waters (And Overcome Fear)預覽

Storms

The disciples met their match in this story (Mark 4:35-41). As fishermen, they were experts at navigating the seas. They had spent their lives working on the water. They had seen storms before but maybe not one quite like this. Their first instinct was to fight it as hard as they could.

After battling the storm for as long as they could handle, the disciples finally woke Jesus, who had been available to them the entire time. With three words, “Quiet! Be still!” Jesus stopped what they had spent their entire energy fighting. What would it have looked like had they woken him the minute the storm started and the squall hit?

I can easily relate to the disciples. When something happens in my life, my instinct is to get to work. I call on my knowledge, skills, and resources. I strain against the situation I am confronted with instead of turning to him. However, even with my skills and abilities, I cannot meet the demands of this life. My efforts will fall short even with the best self-help books, education, internet searches, and research. This life is too hard.

Jesus stands ready and capable of calming the inner storms raging inside you. Many Christians say that even when praying, they don’t feel better. The storm still seems much too intense, and the fear and panic are out of control.

The power is in his words. When God speaks, the chaos inside us finds the calm we are so desperately searching for. Psalm 107:30 says the Lord guides us to the haven we are striving for. The Lord longs for us to stop fighting our battles with all our might and sit in the presence of a God who has never left and has the power to handle the fight.

I don’t know what life challenges you are facing. I can tell you that my life has provided plenty of situations that have brought about intense storms in my heart. I have had panic attacks and emotional pain in all the mental anguish. In those times, I have also seen how digging in to hear Jesus’ voice through the Bible has given me what I need.

Stop trying to fight the storms inside yourself on your own. I still utilize tools available to me through counseling and help from friends. But the real supernatural power to meet the challenges of this life has come from going down into the stern of the Bible and talking to Jesus.

Turn your storms over to him, who gives us the word, “Be still.”

Lord, no matter what we are facing, I pray we would seek your words and take comfort that even in the darkest storms, you have never left. You long to guide us to a haven in our hearts. We cannot do life on our own. We do not have the skills to face our challenges. Help us remember to run to you daily, that you will guide us to a safe haven.

Jenita Pace, MA. Ed, LPC, is the author of The Healing Names of Jesus: Find Freedom from Depression and Anxiety, a devotional which explores thirty-one names of God to help you deepen your understanding of who he is, find meaning in your pain, and renew your strength. Learn more at https://bit.ly/TheHealingNamesofJesus