Nougat 26

Yesterday, some of you responded with references about your own journeys. Several of us have met bumpy roads, but we’re still persevering. Others of you may argue that it wasn’t a road or highway. It is a raging storm, and the ship has begun to show signs that it’s about to sink. Whether it is a quaternary-styled road or a storm at sea, I wish to remind us: Jesus is with us. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

“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?” Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭38‬, ‭40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We Gotta Have Faith, Faith, Faith

So there was Jesus, sleeping in the back of the boat, the storm was raging, and He didn’t even stir. The disciples were frightened, more so, because of Jesus’ lack of response. What were they to do? They did what they had to do. They woke Jesus up. Then they asked Him whether He wanted everyone to die.

There’s one word in Jesus’ response that left me reeling. To be honest, I didn’t even check other versions to see whether they had included it. Did you notice it. Jesus responded, ‘Do you still have no faith?’ Meaning, after all this time, you continue to disbelieve.

I believe I would have had a moment right there. The storm was at its worst, and the boat was obviously no match for the storm. It was likely that the water getting in the boat was more than what they bailed out. Jesus slept as though unperturbed and then accused us that we were faithless!!! It was the mains of my mouth getting ahead of me. Maybe we should all prepare to drown?!

But, in that tirade, I would have been missing one key point – just like the disciples. It was Jesus Who was in the boat with me. Jesus, Who had healed many. Jesus, Whom we chose to follow because we recognize Him as the Messiah. It was still Jesus, despite the fact that He was asleep.

As long as we were focusing on the storm or on Jesus being asleep, we failed to remember one key thing. Jesus, our Messiah, is the only begotten Son of our Living God! This means He had all the creative power that God has and still does today. Moreover, being God and not human, that creative power extended to having control over nature and the elements.

That fact remains true today. As long as God remains Creator of this universe, and Jesus remains God’s Son, and God’s Spirit remains in us, God is still in control. Because God is in control, we need not fear. We can have faith in our God, even when the storms rage. For our God created the elements that result in storms. No matter the type of storm.

Death, debt, sickness, famine, floods, natural disasters, nuclear disasters, war, unemployment, inequalities, broken relationships, corruption, etc., are all subject to God, and therefore under God’s control. So when we cry out, our thoughts shouldn’t be that Jesus is asleep on the job. Rather, we cry, ‘Abba, help!’, confident that God heard before we cried, and will respond.

If the answer is ‘No’ this time, we can ask again. We continue to have faith in our God, Who is mighty to save. In times like these, when the storms rage all around, let’s hold on to our faith, giving praise to Jesus, Who continues to intercede for us.

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May all we seek be found in Christ