I last wrote about the different way we can approach life’s calamities when we live under Jesus – that we are now living under a different rule. We are already living under Divine favour and instead of calling out in fear to God when calamity strikes, we can rest assured that our Saviour is in control in His kingdom and we will be delivered. We simply can ask and trust in Him.
We could look at any of the calamities of life in Psalm 107 but we will take the peril of the sea as an example of my point. Let’s look at those words from this psalm.
23”Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. 24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. 25 He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. 26 Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. 28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. 30 What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor! 31 Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. 32 Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation. “(Psa. 107:23-32).
I want you to notice that when men are at their wit’s end and all else has failed they will cry out to God and God then will deliver them. This is exactly what happened when Jonah was in the boat in the violent storm and we read that “Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.” (Jon. 1:5).
It’s also how the disciples reacted when they were in the boat with Jesus but Jesus used this incident to teach them about trust in Him.
5 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41).
Under Jesus we have learnt that there is nothing to fear for Jesus is always in control. We are no longer held captive to the fears that surround people who are without Jesus in their lives. We have His promise and assurance that the “time of the Lord’s favour has come” (Luke 4:19) and we are blessed.
In the kingdom of Jesus there is no fear – only trust. Ask and you will receive!
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All quotations are from the NLT.