and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
(Map of Hurricane Irene- larger than Europe)Thoughts: Our savior is pretty weak. Not Jesus- but the one/thing that so many put their trust in. At the coming of the hurricane, people are trusting in the evacuation order to keep them safe; the weather channel to help them know and understand the future; and the national guard to keep the things that they have given themselves too safe.
But the scriptures tell us that we do not have to trust in such weak help. God is always there. providing refuge and strength for us- courage in the face of the earthquakes and storms of life. Jesus did not just ride out the storm with them, He calmed it. But our view of Jesus is so weak and secular and unbelieving. We are afraid of being disappointed with our God if we trust Him as if He could do something about our situation. The Church in America will always languish until we start believing in God again, calling out to Him again. If we do not really believe in God's ability to help/bless/punish then our view of God is pitifully weak and we have little faith, little hope, and really little ability to love God (for He does nothing for us, and becomes quite impersonal, uncaring, and weak). Because God delivers, we can be still before Him and know He is God.
Prayer: May we trust in you in the midst of Irene; in the midst of our earthquakes; in the midst of the problems of life. May we find you to be our Deliverer.
(Jesus in the storm. Rembrandt)
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