“Getting to the Other Side with Jesus!”

January 21, 2019August 4, 2022Leave a comment

Getting to the other side, isn’t that what we all want to do? All we want to do is be opposite of where we are now. Standing on the edge of one shore with a whole mess of stormy ocean in between, all our hearts yearn to do is get through this mess safely and plant our feet on the shore of peace that stands waiting to receive us after navigating the tumultuous oceans in between.

But, it’s that whole mess of raging ocean in between that’s the problem. Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes the waves are so high and terrible, the view of the shore is obscured. Sometimes they crash so violently that I can’t help cry out with the disciples, “Lord, save us!” (Matthew 8:25). The situation is hard and we are desperate and screaming for deliverance!

The Lord hears, and He questions them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). For the disciples, Jesus wanted to know, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25).

Let’s face it, like the disciples, sometimes it’s hard to see past what is before you right now. With fearsome events swirling around, and disaster seemingly imminent, “seeing” a positive end to this rise is very difficult. But, God never asked us to see the better end. He asks us to hold on, in faith, and trust that He will get us to the other side.

Four times we are told in His word, “The just shall live by faith,” (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38). And, in 2 Corinthians we are told, “We walk by faith, not by sight,” (5:7). Yet, no matter how much we hear or read these encouraging words from Scripture, when it comes our time to be in the boat tossed about on the raging seas, many are ready to abandon ship because they just can’t see the way to the other side. But, abandoning ship doesn’t get you to the other side. It only leaves you treading water in the middle of the waves.

I don’t scoff at the disciples for waking Jesus, because if you don’t know how to get through the storm safely, and if you are having trouble navigating the ferocious winds in your life, it’s best to lean on Jesus in the middle of the storm. It’s best to speak to the one who cannot only see you safely to the other side but quiet the mess in between (Matthew 8:26). If your goal is the other side, Jesus is your way. Trust that if you are riding with Him, you will arrive safely on that shore of peace because Jesus never fails.

“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” – Psalm 107:29

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” – Psalm 34:17

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” – Nahum 1:7

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic). See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

“Formulas Aren’t Faith!”

December 3, 2016December 3, 20162 Comments

$math-001$

No matter which way you look at it 2+2 will always equal 4. It will never change. As long as the equation is written the same exact way each and every time, the outcome will always be the same.

In life it’s not always that easy. One day we may wake up and we do something that brings happiness, joy, or success. Thinking to repeat the same results, the next day we awake and try the same equation. Unfortunately, this time it doesn’t always equal up to the previous time allowing discouragement to take over at what seems to be failed results.

Befuddled, one wonders in confusion of how can this be?

More confusing is when we try to apply this mathematical method to our walk of faith. Yet, that in and of itself is contradictory to the very essence of faith itself. For if one is striving to walk by formulas then he/she is not walking by faith.

Formulas are not faith. Pre-prescribed methods are not the path of liberty to walk freely in trust and belief before God.

Do we get discouraged because the 2+2 of our spiritual disciplines didn’t add up to the amazing results it once produced? For instance, one morning I may get up and pray before having coffee or anything. My morning worship is awesome. My day is awesome. Therefore, I repeat the process day by day. Then, one day I awake too tired to form a coherent thought and need to sit for a bit first and drink a cup of coffee while I fully wake. What do I do? Is my day predicated on my formula or my faith?

It’s easy to get attracted to formulas for in them we feel like we have some control over our destiny. But, this is not the life we have been chosen to live. We are called to “walk by faith, and not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus repeatedly stated, “Your faith has made you well,” (Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:5).

I absolutely don’t knock anyone’s way they are used to doing anything; spiritual or otherwise. I don’t buck against their rituals or the like that makes each one of us comfortable. We all have things we like to do a certain way. But, we must never let these things take precedence over our spiritual walk in Him. We must never let formulas replace faith.

“Formulas Aren’t Faith!”

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015Leave a comment

$math-001$

No matter which way you look at it 2+2 will always equal 4. It will never change. As long as the equation is written the same exact way each and every time, the outcome will always be the same.

In life it’s not always that easy. One day we may wake up and we do something that brings happiness, joy, or success. Thinking to repeat the same results, the next time we awake and try the same equation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always equal up to the previous time allowing discouragement to take over at what seems to be failed results.

Befuddled, one wonders in confusion of how can this be?

Formulas are not faith. Pre-prescribed methods are not the path of liberty to walk freely in trust and belief before God.

Then, one day I awake too tired to form a coherent thought and need to sit for a bit first and drink a cup of coffee while I fully awake. What do I do? Is my day predicated on my formula or my faith?

It’s easy to get attracted to formulas for in them we feel like we have some control over the destiny thereof. But, this is not the life we have been chosen to live. We are called to “walk by faith, and not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus repeatedly stated, “Your faith has made you well,” (Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:5).

I don’t knock anyone’s way they are used to doing anything. I don’t buck against their rituals or the like that makes each one of us comfortable. We all have things we like to do a certain way. But, we must never let these things take precedence over our spiritual walk in Him. We must never let formulas replace faith.

Disclaimer:

Let me clarify unless you think I am giving you permission to live some heretical lifestyle: I still like to get up and pray before coffee or anything else in the morning. It’s the way I feel led by the Lord to start my day; to seek him first. Prayerfully; and I do mean prayerfully, you have to search God for yourself in what He wants you to do, and do that. Our relationship with God is personal; it’s between Him and you. The point is to make sure that whatever you are doing; you have your faith in operation in the process of it all and you are doing what He wants you to do. Obedience to Him with your faith is the ultimate key, no matter what the day looks like.