Blog four: Circumstance's don't define God's love for us.gdharpoolDec 31, 20216 min readEverybody will face a storm sooner or later. Storms come but they don’t last. In Luke 8:22–39, we find the disciples, those closest to Jesus, in a physical storm and, for some of them, a personal storm.One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. You might be thinking, I don’t need a Bible story right now. Yes, we all need this one. The disciples were on a journey, and the storm hit. We don’t wake up one day and say, “Let’s go make a mess of our lives. Let’s destroy all our relationships, damage our futures, and lose everything.” No, most of our storms come in the middle of doing what we do every day, trying to make a living and live our lives. The disciples had been in that boat on that lake and had crossed it many times. This time was different. This time there was an unexpected storm. We all have it all together…until we don’t. No one gets through without storms. It Doesn’t Matter Who Caused the Storm—At Least Not While You Are in ItThe same is likely true for you. A decision, maybe even what was initially a good decision, leads to a situation that leads to a storm or sometimes we are literally just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then comes the storm and the ensuing damage. The damage may be physical, relational, financial, mental or all of these. It doesn’t matter whether you caused the storm, encouraged the storm, or found yourself the victim of the storm; it was still a storm. Storms destroy and kill, regardless of their cause. Your role in causing the storm may be important later for self-reflection, but not while you are in the midst of it and getting battered on every side. The Worst Thing You Can DoThe disciples did the worst thing you can do when you are in a storm: they panicked. When you and I panic, it makes a few things happen, and none of them are good. First, when we panic, we turn the focus on us and the impact of the storm, instead of getting out of the storm. Second, when we panic, we focus on the storm’s power and not on God’s power. Third, when we panic, we limit our ability to think and to control our emotions. The disciples panicked. “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’” (v. 24). I am not saying there isn’t real damage possible in a storm. Storms are real, and as some of us know, storms can alter the rest of our lives. The disciples were not wrong for identifying the storm; they were correct. “A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger” (v. 23). Their mistake was focusing on the storm and not on God. When we are in a storm, the most important thing we can do is to focus on what God promises us. I am amazed at how many of us never hold God accountable for what he promises. As the song “The Promise” reminds us:“I never said that I would give you silver or goldOr that you would never feel the fire or shiver in the coldBut I did say you'd never walk through this world aloneAnd I did say, don't make this world your homeI never said that fear wouldn't find you in the nightOr that loneliness was something you'd never have to fightBut I did say I'd be right there by your sideAnd I did say I'll always help you fight'Cause you know I made a promise that I intend to keepMy grace will be sufficient in every time of needMy love will be the anchor that you can hold ontoThis is the promise, this is the promise I made to youI never said that friends would never turn their backs on youOr that the world around you wouldn't see you as a foolBut I did say like me, you'll surely be despisedAnd I did say my ways confound the wiseI didn't say you'd never taste the bitter kiss of deathOr have to walk through chilly Jordan to enter into restBut I did say I'd be waiting right on the other side (yeah, yeah)And I did say I'll dry every tear you crySo just keep on walkin', don't turn to the left or rightAnd in the midst of darkness, let this be your lightThat hell can't separate us and you're gonna make it throughThis is the promise, this is the promise I made to you, ohThis is the promise, this is the promise I made to you.”More specifically God promises each of us: “I won’t abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5–6); “Cast your cares on me for I care for you.” (1 Peter 5:7); “Fear not. “(2 Timothy 1:7); “I will always forgive you.” (1 John 1:9).Our Circumstances Do Not Define Us. God Does.The disciples made the classic bad decision that can be made during storms. They evaluated their circumstances instead of their God. Their circumstances were that they had a lot of people in a small boat, on waves, in the midst of water, with a high probability of drowning. While that is an accurate description of their circumstances, it is not an accurate description of their situation. God hadn’t spoken yet to their situation. Come to think of it, where was God? “As they sailed, he fell asleep” (v. 23). Don’t miss this. It wasn’t that the disciples couldn’t feel God in their situation or that they didn’t know where he was or how any of this mess could be used by God to fulfill his plan for them. Jesus was literally asleep. It’s okay; admit it. When you’re in the storm, it’s easy to feel that God is asleep on the job.• Diagnosis of cancer? He’s sleeping.• Child out of control? He’s sleeping.• Abusive spouse? He’s sleeping.• Loss of a loved one? He’s sleeping.• Broken marriage? He’s sleeping.• Ministry destroyed? He’s sleeping.• Reputation ruined? He’s sleeping.• Developing an addiction? He’s sleeping.Don’t confuse your unhappiness or a lack of understanding of your current circumstances with God not caring. Your circumstances do not determine how much God loves you; rather your circumstances measure how much grace he will give you. His grace is sufficient. Faith is when you know God loves you, he is in charge, and he has a plan for you even when your circumstances suggest he’s asleep. The truth is that sometimes it does seem like God is asleep. In the case of the disciples in the boat, being swamped by waves, he was … but he was also still in control. One reason Jesus was asleep was simply, he was tired. However, another reason why Jesus was asleep is that he was at peace with the storm. He knew the storm could mold the disciples into whom they were created to be. He knew he would protect them, so he was at peace. If we could remember and honestly believe one thing in the storms of life, we would avoid our falls. That one truth is:God has a plan for your life. You and I can’t prevent God from being God simply because we are being human. His plan for us is based on his love for us, and he will work his plan for us and for our good if we submit to him. That is true no matter how far off the path we’ve gone. Your past has nothing to do with your future in Jesus. Your circumstances don’t define you; God does.The CatchHowever, to find peace in the midst of the storm, to prevent from drowning as you hit bottom, there is something you need to do. Jesus asked a simple question: “‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him’” (v. 25). Notice the disciples were still in fear, but it was turning to amazement as they watched Jesus, straight from a nap, speak peace to their circumstance. He controlled their situation. Sometimes he changes the circumstances and sometimes he just changes us. Then they remembered, this is Jesus. They put their faith in him. They didn’t completely understand who Jesus was yet, and neither do we, but they put their faith in him that even the winds and water obey.
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