The Other Side

I’ve been backing up and going through my notebook and reminding myself of things God said. This because I realised its importance in keeping afloat when waters get rough.

You see the temptation is great to focus on the waters when they change on you and in doing so one easily forgets what was said. I looked at the story of Jesus and His disciples and a storm.

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples. “Let us go over to the other side.” Mark 4:35

This was the word, the instruction, the desired outcome of the journey; the other side. And it would prove important during the journey to remember this.

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:37-40

Two major characteristics of a squall is that it is sudden and it is violent. It’s is wind that is usually accompanied by rain. So simply put, it’s going from 0 to a 100. And as though that wasn’t bad enough, the Bible adds that it was a ‘furious’ squall. It was out of control. Such happens in life. You could be cruising, dealing with absolutely nothing or the most mediocre things, then suddenly, having so much to deal with you don’t know where to start. Wind hitting your face with the strongest force, rain pouring down on you in the most merciless way, water hitting against your boat, breaking in, rising from your ankles to your calves. Your mind automatically goes into panic mode. No wonder they ran to Jesus, hysterical, accusing him of not caring about them. In all this panic, they forgot. Jesus had said they were going to the other side, and that is where they would get, come what may, if they kept their head in the right space.

There’s something interesting the Bible points out, the boat wasn’t swamped as yet, but nearly. The New Living Translation says it ‘began to fill with water.’ Same as how Peter wasn’t drowning but was beginning to when he cried for Jesus’ help after he attempted walking on water. The problem in both circumstances is that they drew to a conclusion from what was the introduction. They allowed themselves to be dictated to by what the situation seemed to be instead of holding on to what was said. This is what is important when things turn on you, what do you think? Do you think it’s the end just because of how intense it is? Do you conclude that you won’t make it? What you think will determine how you react. And right thinking is a really hard job hey. It’s easier to let you thoughts go wild, to go where they lead you. But its better, though harder, to confine my thoughts to what the Word has said. I must remember, when I’m too sick to get up that He said I was healed on the cross, that when I’m in so much need I have no clue how I’ll get through the next day, that He said when He’s leading me I will not lack. When the storms rage against you, don’t focus on the waves, remember the Word.

It’s unfathomable that Jesus was sleeping through all of this. So crazy that the disciples concluded that He didn’t care. I other words, Jesus was pretending to be asleep, he couldn’t be, he must have heard and felt the boat moving to and fro. I agree that Jesus must have felt something was going on, but He didn’t feel it enough for it to disturb His peace. That’s key; don’t feel more than you know. Jesus blamed their desperate cry on their lack of faith. Failing to believe in who He was and the Word He had spoken. As much as they were afraid, they should have not forgotten who they had in the boat. Never should I get so carried away by what I see I undermine God’s sovereignty. God knows and sees and He’s in control, nothing can take Him by surprise, my prayers must reflect this.

So whatever you may be going through, remember the destination dear child, hell or high waters you are going to the other side. Believe right, think right and you’ll start seeing right. You will make it to the other side.