Thursday, January 23

The word ‘control’ simply put means to have power over something. We’ve all lived long enough to understand that we’re not always in control. Life is cruising along then something happens that reminds us that we’re not in control. Maybe it’s circumstances in our health, our finances, with our loved ones, suddenly life is out of control.

In today’s Bible reading we’ll look at a one of those situations when life gets out of control. One day Jesus told his disciples to get on a boat to cross over to the other side of the lake. They got on board, off they went, and Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly a fierce storm broke out, and the disciples went to wake Jesus up shouting, “Master, we’re going to drown!” Jesus woke up, rebuked the storm and suddenly the storm calmed down. Then Jesus asked the following question, “Where is your faith?” Allow me to answer that question, their faith was exactly where our faith is when life is out of control. Their faith was on the circumstances. They lost their faith when they lost control of their circumstances. But upon seeing the storm calm at Jesus’ command they were both terrified and amazed.

Let me ask you a question, after Jesus calmed the storm, do you think the disciples’ faith in him was less or more? Obviously their faith grew. And that’s the point. When life is out of control it doesn’t mean that God is out of control. God uses the out of control circumstance in our lives to grow our faith. For the disciples before the storm Jesus was a good leader worth following. After the storm Jesus was the only one that had everything under control.

Bible Reading
Luke 8:22-25 NLT

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

Heavenly Father, Help me to understand that when my life is out of control it doesn’t mean that you’re not in control. Allow me to view the out of control circumstances in my life as an opportunity to for you to grow my faith.