Devotional
GOD’S PROMISES DAILY
Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God and keep praising Him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 53:5
Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us? Can troubles or suffering or hunger or sadness or danger or violent death? As it is written in the scripture: “For you, we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.” But in all these things, we have full victory through God who showed His love for us.
Romans 8:35-37
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid of them and don’t be frightened, because the Lord God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 3:6
JESUS CHRIST IS WITH US IN LIFE’S STORMS Text: Mark 4:35-41
This story illustrates how God Almighty is with us and in control in all our life’s journey, even in the most desperate circumstances.
Here Christ, the Savior was at last relieved from the pressure of the multitude teaching, and overcome with weariness and hunger. He laid down in the stern of the boat and soon fell asleep with His disciples in the same boat. But, suddenly darkness overspread the sky, the wind swept widely, and a fierce tempest burst upon the lake.
Christ’s disciples, several of them were seasoned fishermen and sailors, frantically worried that they would perish in the storm. Absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, they had forgotten that Jesus was with them on the boat. In amazement and despair, they exclaimed “Master, carest Thou not that we perish.” Jesus rises, He stands in the midst of the disciples while the tempest rages, He lifts His hand and says to the angry sea “Peace be still,” the storms ceases. The billows sink to rest. The boat now rests upon a quiet sea. Then Jesus asked sorrowfully, “Why are ye fearful?” Have you not yet faith?
If the disciples had trusted in Him, they would have been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their unbelief. In their frantic effort to save themselves, they forgot Jesus: and it was only when in despair of self-dependence, they turn to Him that He could give them help.
How often the disciples’ experience is ours. When the tempests of temptation gathers, and life journey waves sweep over us, we battle the stor alone forgotten that we have Christ who can help us. We trust in our own strength till our hope is lost, and we are ready to perish. Then we remember Jesus and if we call upon Him to save us, we shall not cry in vain: He will never fail to give us the help we need.
In our text, Jesus wanted each Christian to discover two important lessons that:
He is aware of your situation
Despite the fact that Jesus being human in the ship needed physical sleep, He was still fully aware of the disciples’ predicament. The moment one of us cries to Him, He responds immediately and powerfully. The shrieking of the storm did not wake Him, but the cry of one of the disciples did. Matthew 10:29 says “Not even a sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing”
You can make it through with Christ on your side
In this world each one of us is going to face hardship and trials in life’s journey. But only Christians have the promise that God’s presence is within Him or Her in the midst of the storm. Sometimes God will let us reach a point of desperation before He answers so that we will recognize that He is our only sure hope. He will not leave you stranded in the midst of your problem.
Paul reminds us that “I am sure that God, who began His good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ comes again” (Philippians 1:6).
Finally, in our text (Mark 4:35-41) let us remember that although Christ sorrowfully reproves our unbelief and self-confidence. He never fails to give us the help we need. Whether on land or on the sea, if you have the Savior in your heart, there is no need to fear.
Knowing and Trusting Christ, brings Victory and Joy
Today many people are seeking joy and happiness but are not finding them. Some find pseudo-happiness in their worldly possessions, pleasures, positions or accomplishments.
Apostle Peter writing to the “Strangers” scattered throughout Asia Galatia, and Bithynia says:
“ and Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I Peter 1:8
As you put your trust in Christ and looking toward His promised return, you will be filled with “unspeakable joy”. The joy will not be just some sort of emotional high but it will be a deep supernatural experience of contentedness, based upon the fact of your Christian life through the Holy Spirit is right with almighty and powerful God. The joy will be a lasting joy with happiness that will sustain you for the rest of your life journey.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, wrote to the Romans:
“Now the God of Hope fill you with the joy and peace in believing that you may abide in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Paul emphasize that knowing whom you belong to and what the future holds bring true joy.
He also mentioned three facts of a Christian life, after you accept Christ as your savior that should give you great joy.
1. A new identity: When you accept Jesus Christ into your life, as your personal savior and Lord, God gives you a new identity. You will discover that you are now not just a product of random chance but you are now a child of God.
2. Power to face life challenges: You also have the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen you. The Holy Spirit releases His power the moment you take your step of faith, and He is also the one that keeps you and helps you overcome the flesh and the devil.
The Holy Spirit works constantly in your heart to help you understand God’s word and help transform your attitude and behavior. The Holy Spirit comes to live within us, to regenerate, give us new life and seeks to guide us.
3. Hope for the Future: As a Christian, you have hope and knowledge that with faith in Christ you can face tomorrow. Although you know not what tomorrow holds, but you know Him who holds tomorrow—Jesus the Christ.
Victory is Yours in Jesus Christ
God realizes that as human beings, we will face temptations somehow in this world. However, because God cares deeply about us, He made provisions to help us overcome life’s trials and temptations.
“There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able may with temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13
This verse above provides two rays of hope for Christians when we are tempted:
1. Jesus Understands Your Situation in This Life
Christ understands what it is like to be tempted, for He: “faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did sin” ---- ---Hebrew 4:15
Because Jesus knows what it feels like to be tempted, He is sympathetic toward us, and will not feel annoyed at our failure in trials or tribulations.
2. God Will Surely Give You Strength To Get Through Trials or Temptations
When temptations come, God has promised to give you and me power to resist it or a way to escape it.
God will allow hardship in the life of Christians, but He will give us a way to escape and will never give us more than we can handle.
