Rising Waters
We have had a lot of rain lately. Of course, it’s March and I guess that is to be expected. But I thought “April showers bring May flowers?” Oh well. The fact remains… we had a lot of rain! The rain came down and the floods came up in the south end of our field and in the bottoms north of where we live.
As I was driving through there I began to wonder about the rising waters. It reminded me of the times when depression would overtake me. It felt like a flood that I couldn’t stop. When engulfed in the black hole of it, I felt as if I were drowning. Or at least as if I was going to drown.
That is probably how the Disciples felt when they were in a boat in the middle of a storm. The winds came up and the waters began churning and sloshing over the sides. Where was Jesus? Asleep! How could He possibly sleep in the middle of a storm on the sea, with the waves crashing all around and over the sides of the boat? Yet, He was. He wasn’t worried at all. But the Disciples were.
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” ~Matthew 8:23-25 (emphasis mine)
Isn’t that just like children? You are sound asleep, a storm comes up in the night and with the crashing of the thunder and lightning, you hear little feet, then a small voice saying, “Mommy, I’m scared!”Your reply? “There’s nothing to be afraid of.” Just as we comfort our children during the rising waters of the storms, Jesus comforts His children. His reply to the disciples?
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” ~Matthew 8:26 (emphasis mine)
When storms of life come crashing down and the waters of depression, intimidation, oppression, anxiety, fear, or whatever it is that gets to you begin to rise, call out to Jesus. Declare your victory over the rising waters. They may swirl and crash all around you, but they won’t overtake you. Why? Because you have Jesus as your Life Saver. Even if He doesn’t calm the waters, He will calm you, His child.
The waters will eventually go back down and things will get back to “normal.” (Whatever that is around my place!) Whatever waters you’re riding in will also go back down eventually. So when you see them rising, smile and look up! Jesus knows exactly where you are, and He has everything under control. No need to worry!
