If I Were an Eagle...

If I were an eagle, God would become the wind, so He could lift me to soar safely to my destination.

If I were an otter, God would become my fast-moving stream, carrying me along while I dive and swirl, finding joy in how He made me.

If I were a lamb, God would become my grazing pasture to provide for me, nourishing my body day after day.

If I were a flower, God would become my sunshine and rain, warming and sustaining me until I bloomed as He plans.

If I were a tree, God would become my earth, allowing me to sink my roots deeply in Him, holding me tight through even the strongest storms.

But I am not an eagle, nor an otter, nor a lamb, nor a flower, nor a tree.  I am a human being.  So God became one too - in the person of Jesus Christ, that He might...

     Lift me to soar safely to my heavenly destination,

          Carry me along to find joy in how He made me,

               Provide for me, nourishing my spirit day after day,

                    Warm and sustain me until I bloom as He plans,

                         Hold tight to me through even the strongest storms.

No matter what you might face, just know that He came to do the same for you.  He is Risen!

Jacob

Hey! Wake up!

Does it seem like you’re having a nightmare and you just can’t seem to wake up?  We were just going about our business and then WHAM!!  The circumstances of life just hit us over the head!  None of us had planned an extended home stay, but that’s what we’ve gotten.  Whatever we had planned, there’s a NEW plan.  Are you feeling a bit swamped and overwhelmed?  A bit afraid?  I know we’re all in the boat together, but what if we peek into a different boat for perspective?

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?”      Mark 4:35-40

The disciples were going about their ordinary day-to-day business of getting from point A to point B with Jesus.  Yet a huge storm interrupted their journey and, at least to THEM, seemed to threaten their lives.  Aren’t there times when you kind of feel like the boat you’re in is taking on water?  That the storm is too great to make any headway?  That’s EXACTLY how the disciples felt.  And where was Jesus?  S-L-E-E-P-I-N-G.  They were indignant!  Didn’t Jesus care about them at all?  How could He let them just DIE as they were trying to serve Him?

There are always lessons to learn from the pages of Scripture, so let me just boldly make some points for us both:

1.   The storm wasn’t as bad as it seemed.  The disciples weren’t going to die; they just felt like they might.  Whatever you’re facing right now – all the swirling debris and chaos – probably isn’t going to kill you. 

2.   Jesus cares more about your faith than your circumstances.  In fact, He USES the challenges we face to GROW our faith.  I suspect the disciples got the point, but the greater questions is, “Do I get it?”  What is God teaching me in the midst of THIS storm?

3.   The peace and calm we seek is only found in Jesus.  It was (and is) only Jesus who could calm the storm.  Note that they didn’t wake Him and ask Him to calm the storm.  They only woke Him to accuse Him of not caring about them.  Don’t be guilty of doing the same.

I want to quickly add that not all of the swirling and chaos in our lives is there because God wants to use it to grow us.  Some of the worry we have is because we haven’t prepared for the struggle we’re facing – either financially, physically, or spiritually.  If you’re worried that you’ll make it through, or if you share the fear of the disciples in the boat and wonder if God cares, there is an easy answer.  Stop what you’re doing immediately, close your eyes, and look for Jesus.  He’s there, ready to be the anchor for your soul; your resting place; your life-preserver, if need be.  Though He rested on the boat that day with the disciples, He does not rest or sleep now.  He is ALWAYS praying for you, just waiting for you to reach out to Him.  Because He cares for you.  Thank God that no matter how severe the storm, that never changes.

In the boat with you,

Jacob