When we face uncertain times we usually think naturally, but God is supernatural. God’s voice tells us to trust Him, even when we do not know the path that He wants us to take.
Psalm 31:14-15 NKJV But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.
Psalm 31:14-15 NLT But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands.
Everyone faces this challenge with our daily assignments. Often we start out with what looks like a simple task and are surprised with unexpected challenges.
1 Samuel 17, tells about a man named Jesse.
Of Jesse’s eight sons, three were on a battlefield with King Saul fighting against the Philistines. Jesse wanted to see how everything was going with his sons and he wanted to send them some food. He told his youngest son David, “Take this basket of provisions and run to your brothers and see how your brothers are getting along and bring back word.” (1 Samuel 17:17)
Have you ever had an assignment that seemed easy, but ended up in a battle for your life? Have you heard God saying, “You can trust Me?” You felt the tug of the wind of the Spirit pulling you in the direction that God has chosen. Have you ever had one of those assignments? Often in life, the easy assignments lead us directly into a storm or a battle.
When David arrived on the battlefield, he was immediately confronted with the Philistine champion from Gath. The question was flooding through the camp: “Have you seen the giant?” It is easy to trust God when you are carrying a basket of bread and cheese to your brothers.
- Will you trust God to direct your course if there is a giant?
- Will you trust Him to navigate you safely through the storms in your life?
- Will you trust God in uncertain times?
Matthew 8:23 NKJV Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
This was a usual and customary thing for them to do. Many of them were fishermen and felt very comfortable in a boat.
Have you done that?
You said you would follow Jesus wherever He would lead. Your faith and trust were high. Sometimes Jesus just tells us to get in the boat. Other times, He gets in the boat and we just follow. Whichever way it is, we are following the Lord.
As the disciples got into the boat, they expected a safe journey to their destination.
- We are the same.
- We have no reason to expect something unusual to happen.
- We started out with Jesus and got in the boat.
- We put all of our faith and trust in Him.
- We trusted that He would keep us and safely carry us through.
- When you have walked with Jesus, you have that kind of faith and trust.
Matthew 8:24 NKJV …suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.
Have you noticed the great tempest that has suddenly come up?
I don’t need to remind you about the trouble that is all around us.
In 2 Corinthians 4, the Apostle talks about this kind of thing.
- We are hard-pressed on every side.
- We are perplexed.
- We are persecuted.
- We are struck down.
Paul knew what it was like to go through times like these.
In 2 Corinthians 7:5 Paul said, “When we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.”
He wrapped that verse with words of faith and trust. In verse 4 he said, “I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.” Then in verse 6-7 he said, “God, Who comforts the downcast, comforted us…” Then he said, “I rejoiced even more.”
How can we live like that?
Paul gave Timothy, his son in the faith, this warning.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Timothy 3:12-13 NIV84 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
I think the Holy Spirit was showing him the days we are living in.
Fierce storms have arisen. Sometimes it looks like the storms will sink our hopes and dreams. Sometimes fear tries to grip our souls and despair starts creeping in. It is easy to forget that our hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth.
When the disciples got in the boat, the waters were calm.
When the storm suddenly arose and the waves covered the boat, Jesus was asleep.
Matthew 8:24 NKJV But He was asleep.
While the storm was raging, Jesus was asleep. How could the Lord have sleep during the storm? How could He not be disturbed and full of despair?
Matthew 8:25 NKJV Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Did you know that the Lord is not alarmed by your storm?
His peace is greater than the storm. Remember His words: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!” (John 14:27) Jesus trusted God just as much in the storm as He did on the shore.
How can you not be troubled?
How can you not be afraid?
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you…” His peace takes your storm into account. The Lord knows that there will be storms and tempests. He knows that troubles will assail on every side. He knows that perilous times will come. He knows that evil men will grow worse and worse. He has great peace for your storms and tempests.
Matthew 8:26 NKJV But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
When we face uncertain times, we need to have strong trust in the Lord our God. None of us has all of the answers before we face the problem.
Do you want to have assurance that everything is going to be all right? Do you want to know that you will have all of the resources for anything you will face?
If that is you, put your trust in God. If that is you, don’t trust in your own strength or talents.
In 2 Chronicles 32, Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, came to attack the people of God.
His armies and weapons overwhelmed everything Hezekiah could afford. King Hezekiah had a word that should help you today.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NKJV “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.
A mountain of difficulty had arisen before Zerubbabel.
Jeremiah spoke of a destroying mountain that destroys all the earth. God told Jeremiah, “I will stretch out My hand against that mountain.” (Jeremiah 5:25)
He told Zerubbabel, “It is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
Your solution is not going to come through natural means or methods. God is going to be your strength and source. God is going to do it. He is going to turn things around for you.
Zechariah 4:7 NKJV “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!”
Matthew 8:26 NKJV Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
We need to know that the Lord is with us. Our great storm is not too much for Him to control. He has the right word at the right time. He knows how to calm our storm. He knows how to keep us safe. Even the winds and the troubled seas obey Him. He has the right word to bring peace to our storm.
