Jesus is Still in the Boat

Doubt is doubt and fear is fear.

But they hold nothing on the Truth,

for Jesus is near. 

Can I get an Amen?

JESUS is still in the boat! No matter how it may seem or feel…Jesus is by our side.

Then, why do we fear? Why do we doubt? Why do we begin to question why the Lord seems so quiet… when nothing seems to be happening? Why do we question why God sends us places where we may feel inferior or like it’s too big for us? Why do we entertain the feelings when God's promises are true?

Honestly, I question myself on this and this is what I find time and time again… it is because we are human.

We are REAL, not perfect.

We are living and learning!  

We are walking in faith every day!  

It is a journey of faith that we take daily but JESUS is there too. 

So even when the tides are turning and the waves are rough, our eyes must be fixed on the Lord. I think of Mark 4:35-41, verses I often turn to, when in need of a reminder on obedience, faith and trust. 

“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

(‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭35‬-‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Right in verse 35, Jesus already told them they were going to the other side. His Word is true. So why did the storms then cause them to panic? If Jesus was still in the boat and near, why did they fear? 

The disciples lost control. The storms were out of their control and they allowed the seeds of doubt and distrust to speak louder than what Jesus had already promised and commanded them to do when He said, let’s go to the other side. 

This encourages me as it hits deep too. It reminds us that even during the raging storms of life, Jesus is there. We can fight against the urge to panic then when He appears to be silent. In fact, sometimes when the Lord seems quiet to us, it may mean we have allowed the doubts to become louder. Maybe the Lord has already told us what we need to or where we need to go, but we haven’t. Maybe we have allowed the fears and uncontrollable storms that are up against us to halt our journey. 

May that Truth empower us even before we feel ready. 

When God calls, when He says go, let’s go. Let’s trust.

And the best way I find to silence the doubts and the fears of the loudest battles to even the silent storms we fight that no one knows about, is… to pray, to learn the Bible and to SPEAK THAT TRUTH to them as soon as we recognize them.

I know I’ve said it before but it is so important sometimes to hear it over and over again…

~ Recognize what it is. Don’t avoid or deny it. It may just cause it to linger longer. Fear is fear. Doubt is doubt. BUT truth is TRUTH! #Godstruth

~ After recognizing it, don’t entertain the lie. Instead, speak Truth over it.

I am a child of God!

I am victorious in Him!

I may not know what lays ahead but God does. 

And so my trust is in Him.

I will not fear, because even though I can’t see Him, I know He is here. 

We don’t need to worry about the next step. We need to trust. Let’s take it whether it means we must ride out the storm or take a step though shaky. Let’s take it whether it means to run or even to rest right there. Let us trust. Let us take each step in prayer as we walk with the Holy Spirit knowing Jesus is right there too because…

He has never left “the boat.”

aka … He has never left our side.

So The Art of a Messy House Right Here Right Now reflection today is this…

1) What is God calling us to do? 

2) Get quiet with the Lord. Find a quiet place and time to talk to Him. Pray about it.

3) Record the confirmations that come. Go back to past ones that you may have missed or in doubt, avoided.

4) Take the step that God is asking you to step. Pray for bold obedience and faith. Pause and wait if you need to do that too.

5) Praise God through it all. Turn on some worship music throughout your day in the car or even as you get ready for the day. Praise God for what He is doing and that He has never left our side.

6) Be patient and trust. Patience builds trust and patience is part of that true rest even on a boat that may be rocking, because it knows… JESUS IS STILL on the boat.

So let’s pray…

Dear God,

You are worthy of all praises. I trust You. As always, You know best. I lift my doubt. Make me bold so that I can walk in faith and bold obedience in everything You call me to do. Even when I do not understand how, I trust You. With You, all things are possible so I step and trust. So I trust and step, giving You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”

(‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭65‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬)