How are things in your life? Do you face any hardships at the moment? Addiction? Debt? Marriage grown cold? Rebellious children? Uncontrolled anger. It doesn’t matter what kind of trouble it is; a major problem doesn’t appear overnight. It’s build up incident by incident.
“Help!”
There we go again! It’s the same old problem. I’ve seen it coming, but I thought I’ll just ignore it. It’ll be over soon anyway. Right? Wrong!
Keeping an Eye on Things
When making a cake we don’t wait until it is burned to take it out of the oven, do we? We check on it regularly while it is in the oven and might turn it so it’s cooked evenly. After the suggested baking time we examine its color looks fine and if it is done.
Driving a nail into the wall needs attention. We wouldn’t turn our head aside while doing the job, would we? Holding the nail between pointer and thumb, positioning it at the wall, and then trying to hit it without looking at it — Ouch!
The same principle applies to Christian life, our marriage, the way we are raising our children, cleaning and organizing our homes, and budgeting our time and finances. We need to keep a close eye on what is going on. It’s always best to work on problems while they are still tiny to avoid things to escalate or be torn apart.
A Storm Approaches
Sometimes, however, we see nothing but blue skies when, suddenly, darkness surrounds us and thick clouds appear. We have to face the storm coming in. Now what?
In the Middle of the Storm
Mark 4:35-41 says:
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”
Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Remember that Jesus knows of the storm before it is coming in. Don’t be fearful. Instead, keep your faith and know that He is always with you. Stay close to Him wherever you are.
Easier read than lived. Let’s face it! It’s best to get problems out of the way while they are still small. If they get bigger, don’t keep ignoring them. Even if they have evolved into a major issue: Never lose hope! Jesus is the Master in and over every storm — even the wind and the sea must obey Him!