Have you been making sincere efforts to live a holy life but it seems everything works against you? Setbacks here and there. Others are progressing; even those who live unworthy lives seem to make progress while you are struggling with setbacks. Others are getting married, getting good jobs, achieving financial freedom, etc while you’re struggling. And you feel cheated and ask: where is God in all my challenges?
If this describes your experience and you wonder what is happening to you. Be confused no more, this message is for you because the Lord is building a case for the evidence that will make you a faithful witness. If this is not clear, continue reading slowly…
Mark 4:35-41
With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’…Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, the question that should bother your mind as you read the gospel is: what kind of ‘sleep’ must have gripped Jesus to the extent he wasn’t conscious of the storm, even when water splashes have entered the boat till it was almost swamped ? It will be mistaken to say Jesus was fast asleep and unconscious of what was happening. The question from his disciples after they woke him expresses their disappointments in such a situation. And Jesus’ response will prove to you more he did what he did purposely. What could that purpose be, you ask me?
2.Why does God answer at that 11th hour of your waiting? After you have exhausted all efforts and ideas available to you, like he did to his apostles? You say, that God may take the Glory. That’s not all, that you may be his faithful witness as well. That’s the purpose: that God be glorified and that you may be a faithful witness of that Glory. No wonder scripture says in Job 38:1: from the heart of the tempest the Lord answered Job. Which means that God replied Job when his troubles had reached its height, a time he would have given up. Last time I wrote: if your upliftment or blessing comes from God, no matter how many principles you obey, there must be a gap only the signs of God can fill in your story. That gap is where you will confess as a witness: It’s not by power, it not by might but by my Spirit says the Lord (Zech 4,6).
And so the seeming delay from God is a preparation of the evidence by which you will testify before men of the graciousness of God.
3. So Child of God, why do you want to ruin that Divine purpose with impatience? Why do you are you giving in to the voice of the Tempter asking you to compromise on your faith, and seek unholy or impure standards. Remember, there’s no better person to channel your complains than Jesus. Go to him now, because He who watches over you never sleeps nor slumbers (Ps 121:3-4).
4. The same questions posed to the apostles Jesus poses to you: Why are you afraid? Why are you faithless? Have you forgotten what I taught you about fears as tool of manipulation of the evil one? Have you also forgotten I filled you at your baptism with a Spirit of courage, love and right judgement and not that of fear and timidity? (2Tim 1:7). Don’t you know I gave you the Spirit for you to address situations, speak to strongholds, rebuke evils, and summon every elemental forces and they will bow to your rules. Have you forgotten I trained your hands for battle and your arms to bend the heavy bow? If you forget these then you are like Someone with a master key that opens every door but is in bondage because he knows not how to use the key.
TASK: There are no true witnesses without scars, they all had their moments of tribulations. I write you this message from the depths of my own scars to encourage you. And so I tell you flee from any witness without scars. They won’t help you! Pray Psalm 107 now. Pause over verses 2&16, and declare 7 times:
Lord my story must change as you deliver me now!
Change my story now as I break into my blessings:
I break free into my marriage, my employment, financial freedom, success, favors, etc.
And I set myself free from every stagnancy, near success syndrome, demonic relationships, hardships, misfortunes, etc, because you have broken every gate of brass and set every bars of iron asunder, in Jesus name. Amen
As Jesus declares to the storm, so I declare over all the storms in your life: Peace! Be still now! in Jesus name. Amen. Share this post now to bless someone. God bless you.
Psalms 107, Amen 🙏
Amen. May the Lord hear your prayers
Amen
Amen. May the Lord hear our prayers and change our stories.