Note to self: You're Never Too Old to be Afraid

S - "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV)

O - One of the signs that you're following the real Jesus is the oscillation between terror and amazement. In obedience to his instruction the disciples are engulfed by a killer storm; and this is only one of many storms they will face together because they're following Jesus. Earth had trained them to think of storms as seasonal, random from nature or judgement from God and always fearful. Jesus thinks of them as unavoidable, rife with opportunity and purposeful. His questions on that day to his followers remain questions for all of his followers on any day: "He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”"

A - All these years later, my problem is that after a season of smooth sailing I begin to think I'm past the season of storms. Maybe I'm thinking 'I've got this part of following down' and so storms in this area of living really serve no purpose. This line of thinking has consistently produced three results in me:

1.       I am once again surprised, shocked and afraid due to a storm.

2.       Jesus remains steady and unoffended at my less than stellar reaction. Together we revisit his questions.

3.       I end up amazed in confidence due to his presence and then by the resolution of the storm.

This serves to illustrate to me, and in me, the reason the work is believing the person of Jesus not a concept, promise or principle (John 6:29). The person has all authority in heaven and on earth and he's working everything for good … everything! The conclusion of King David is the conclusion for all who follow the Lord as Shepherd: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psalm 56:3 ESV)

P - Lord who is the Good Shepherd and my Shepherd,

Thank you for calling me to your very self to learn to think, love, live and speak the way you do. Thank you for the compass point of your presence recalibrating me in my littleness and fearful weakness. The work is not getting out of the storm but believing you. I accept this work; grateful that mustard seed sized faith is sufficient for you … unto everything being possible. I admit that every day and in every circumstance you already have in mind what you're going to do. You lead and I'll follow.

Looking forward to more amazement,

Steve