New Life in Christ – Trusting Jesus
We have learned how to sit, walk and stand with Christ. Our faith in Him has brought us into newness of life. Rather than being tossed and driven by the circumstances of life and being a prey to every evil scheme of the adversary, we are learning to trust Jesus even when we face winds of adversity and storms of difficulties. God’s voice tells us to trust Him, even when we do not know the path we should take. By this time in your relationship with the Lord, you should know that your faith will be challenged and that you can trust the Lord at all times.
Psalm 31:14–15 NIV84 But I trust in you, O Lord…My times are in your hands.
We should reflect on this fact when we are facing situations that appear to turn life upside down and inside out. Can you really trust the Lord God Jehovah at all times, regardless of what life may bring? He knows the path you should take and He will navigate you safely through the storms in your life.
In Luke 8:22 we are told that one day the Lord got into a boat with His disciples and He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the Lake.” This was not an unusual occurrence for them.
Matthew 8:23 — Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
After they set sail, Jesus laid down in the back of the boat and fell asleep. They had progressed to about the middle of the lake when a great windstorm came down on the lake and their boat was severely tossed and was beginning to fill with water. All of the disciples felt they were in danger of perishing in the storm. So they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Mark 4:39-40 NKJVThen He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
Then the Lord turned to them and said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
Have you noticed that it is easy sitting, walking and even standing with Jesus until the storm comes?
We took a step of blind faith when He told us to get in the boat. Other times, He gets in the boat and we just followed Him. 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 started out with Jesus and got into our little life’s boat. We put all of our faith and trust in Him and expected that He would keep us and safely carry us through.
Matthew 8:24 NKJV …suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves.
Have you noticed changes in life’s circumstances since you started serving the Lord?
When you started, everything was calm and still. You were filled with faith and courage. Maybe you were overwhelmed with emotion as He filled your life with new hope and joy. You had observed the miracle of His salvation and heard His word of faith.
Have you noticed what is going on in our world?
In your lifetime, this world has experienced many dramatic changes. Do any of you remember when the worst thing that could happen in school was if you forgot to do your homework? Maybe there was an argument between two or three kids in class, but you never expected anyone to pull out a gun. The worst kind of family violence was when Mom or Dad threatened to get the belt. You never expected road rage or gun violence. Was I the only one who was raised to feel save at night?
Do you notice how great of a tempest that has arisen in our world?
2 Corinthians 4 talks about the great treasure that we have in our bodies and shows us how God’s power carries us through. It says, We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair. We are persecuted, but not forsaken. We are struck down, but not destroyed. All of this happens so that the new life in Christ Jesus may be manifested in our bodies.
2 Timothy 3:1–2 NKJV Paul told Timothy “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3–5 NKJV unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Then he said: “evil men will grow worse and worse…” (vs. 13).
Have you seen and felt the fierce storm that has arisen?
Sometimes it looks like the storm that is around us is going to sink our hopes and dreams. Sometimes fear of the things that could happen attempts to grip our soul, and despair starts creeping in. If our attention is on all of the things that are going wrong all around, we can forget that Christ is in our boat and that He has not left us alone in the storm.
After the disciples followed Jesus into the boat, it wasn’t long until the storm came.
Don’t think it strange when storms come.
Matthew 8:24 NKJV The disciples turned to the Lord in the storm… “But He was asleep.”
While the storm was raging, Jesus was asleep. Have you ever felt that you needed the Lord and He was asleep in the boat?
How could the Lord have enough peace to sleep in the storm?
Since they were full of fear, 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. Do you remember His words: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid?” (John 14:27) Jesus said, “In Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulations, trouble, and adversity; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” (John 16:32). It was easier to have peace and quietness when you stood on the shore and looked ahead over calm waters.
How can you not be troubled and be afraid when so many things are happening?
When there are wars and rumors of wars, and famines, pestilences, earthquakes, storms and disturbances, Jesus said, “See that you are not troubled!” (Matthew 24:6-7) 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 us on every side. He knows that perilous times will come. He has great peace for your storms and tempests.
Listen to what the Lord said to them.
Matthew 8:26 NKJV But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
You know that uncharted, troubled and perilous waters are difficult. None of us have all of the answers before we have the problem.
The Lord is offering us an assurance that everything is going to be alright!
Do you want to know if you will have all of the resources for anything you will face? Do you want to know that you are going to make it through whatever may happen? If that is you, put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If that is you, don’t trust in your own strength and talents.
In 2 Chronicles 32, Sennacherib king of Assyria came to attack the people of God.
His encampment of armies and weapons overwhelmed anything that Hezekiah could afford. His purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, the city of God. King Hezekiah was given a word then that should help us today.
In 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 King Hezekiah said: “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed… 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.”
Although the armies that came against Hezekiah were great in number and it looked like certain defeat and disaster, the Lord was with Him. God is on our side to help us and to fight our battles.
Matthew 8:26 NKJV Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
We can know that the Lord is with us. The great storm you are facing is not too much for Him to control. He has the right word at the right time to calm your storm and keep you safe. The One Who spoke the universe into existence is on your side, and the winds and the troubled seas must obey Him. You can trust in the Lord at all times. Even when the waters of your life are troubled, keep faith and know that He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. Do you feel that the boat of your life is about to sink? Does fear have a strong hold on your emotions? Has your faith been brought into question by the things that have arisen? Will you invite the Lord to help you? He has the right word of power to bring peace to your storm, and He is still in the boat.
