My Friend, My Storm

What would you do if one of your friends intentionally led you into a disaster. There were no doubts about it, it was absolutely what your friend had in mind. Worse still, this "friend" (getting harder to believe it) pointed you right into what looked like a fine afternoon concluding a miraculous meal, and doesn't give you a reason, doesn't give you an iota of his intention to follow you; and you trusted this guy? Sure, you had made the trip on the boat several times, you might have even grown up on one of the villages edging the lake - or you heard stories about it's rough seas. Nonetheless, a man who had a familiar and trusting face told you to go - the same man who made things happen you couldn't explain... Either way, you find yourself in the drink - on a full stomach - of food you have no idea as to how it got there.

Then the storm comes.

Not any particular storm. Sure a fisherman like yourself has seen his fair share of rough weather, but you really think this time is it, "yup... I'm dead." Back on shore your friend is sending everyone else home from the gathering; but his closest friends he sends into a death trap?

It wasn't a death trap, and you know the rest of the story; Jesus walks on water, you and your friends are terrified and think its a ghost, Peter (your faithful leader) steps out to do the same, gets scared, sinks, and Jesus saves him and at his entry into the boat the entire storm stops.

But... What!?!? He knew it was coming? Led me into it anyway? He was going to stroll on by?

So, if I choose to follow God's direction in my life will I have a similar experience? Well... It is my understanding that if you do or don't follow Christ you will have a similar event. Consider this verse from Jesus:

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

In a quick word study of "here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows:" "will" here is literally "shall" or from Greek, "about to happen." That's quite powerful. I don't care what Joel Osteen or the ''lighter side of the Gospel' preachers have said - Christianity will not make you rich, your disease might not be cured, and you will not get the front row parking every day just cause you pray. You must count the cost of being a Christian. Christianity in the western world as I have taken notice has largely become a consumable good, in which if you don't like it, you just give it up and get another Church, or group of friends, or radio station, or call it quits all together cause things got thick. That's shameful! Read this:

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
      But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. - Proverbs 24:16

The calamity of this world will fall on the wicked and the righteous. Now go back to that storm God placed right smack in the middle of your life. If you haven't seen that storm yet, it's coming. Remember in your walk with Jesus, and as your pray for direction, that that direction might be into a storm, or will be at some point in time. I encourage the follower to not give up or give in when hardship comes to where God has seemed to lead you. When you find yourself in that moment where nothing makes sense, and you doubt God's hand in the matter - DON'T! I wouldn't. If he started this work in your life he will be faithful to complete it. You don't have to be like me, but learn from the disciples in the boat; they were pointed straight into a life threatening situation. God's love is deeper than the sea, he controls the waves, he defeated death, and he is anxious to be with you during the storm. There's a lot of directions to go from here about suffering, and the "whys," but for now stop asking for reasons. God is the way he is, and he has a much bigger plan that you can imagine - and he includes you in the reaping - trust Him on that. Consider the mountain climber. God asks you to climb a mountain, but you see nothing but hardship, pain, and sweat. Once you reach the top of the mountain you see everything just how he intended, and it is miraculous to see. God pointed, you climbed, bled, and reached the top - but you would still be in the weeds if you didn't endure. I hope that's some comfort to you. If this makes no sense, and you have never felt the benefit of your hard work, and your tired of waiting, keep your eyes above the horizon and you will see what the world cannot give you. 

Carry your cross.