LITTLE WAVES

“And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But he said to them, “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?”  Mark 4:39-40

Can you imagine stepping out of a perfectly good boat into a raging sea?  Course Peter was pretty pumped and dead tired.  Days earlier Jesus had sent the disciples out in pairs to minister.  Peter and another disciple went about the country side preaching about repentance, casting out demons, anointing many with oil, and healing them.  After several days, they were excited to tell Jesus all about what they had done and taught.

With a smile on His face, Jesus listened then He said, “We should go to this deserted place that I know of so you can get some rest.”  So they went in a boat to a remote place.  But the crowd saw them leaving and guessed where they were going and went there on foot.  When Jesus saw the crowd, He had compassion on them since He could see they were like sheep without a shepherd so He preached to them all day.

Well you know the story.  When the afternoon was growing late, the worn out disciples told Jesus to send the crowd away so the hungry people could find some food.  I’m sure the disciples wanted nothing more than to be alone, to have some peace and quiet and fill their bellies themselves.  Jesus told them to bring what food they could find which was five loaves and two fish.  Not enough to feed more than five thousand folks, but Jesus thought it was enough.

After He blessed the meager portion, He told the disciples to pass the food out to the people.  So they passed out the broken five loaves and two fishes and then there was more.  It kept coming and coming until all had more than enough.  I can’t imagine twelve people serving over five thousand, but somehow they did.  Their feet must have hurt and their legs must have ached, but adrenaline must have pumped through their bodies to see such a sight.

I would think they ran through the crowd yelling, “There’s enough for you!  And for you! And everyone!  Look what our Lord has done!”

As soon as everyone was served, Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and row to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  He must have known they were dead tired, yet so wound up they would keep going and going.  He knew they would come down from their high and soon crash.  So He made them get in the boat with food, I hope, to burn off the adrenaline with rowing.  When the people were done eating Jesus sent them home, then He went to the mountain top to pray.

Jesus had just gotten word before this about His cousin John being beheaded.  Also, He was tired and worn out, He needed refreshing, He needed peace and quiet, so instead of sleep Jesus chose to bask in the presence of His Heavenly Father.

Long after darkness fell, Jesus looked over the waters and saw the tiny boat tossing about on great waves several miles out on the sea.  Now it was night time and the boat was far from shore yet Jesus saw that His friends were rowing hard since the wind was contrary and against them.  He knew they were worn out.  Done in.  Had about all they could take. So the King of kings set out walking across the waves to go to them.

Peter tried to remember why he was so jacked when they had jumped into the boat, jabbering, talking, and yelling Hallelujah as they rowed their way out on the water.  Sure, they had spent days on a spiritual high ministering in amazing ways, and today they had seen a great miracle happen before their eyes, but now his muscles screamed, his arms felt like dead weights and his back burned as if knives pierced him.  It had grown deathly quiet in the boat except for grunts now and then, the food was long gone and everyone was beyond exhausted.  And they were making very little head way against the blasted wind.

Why had they left?  Why didn’t they just stay there with Jesus and send the crowd away?  Then get some rest.  Why did Jesus tell them to leave?  Where was Jesus now?  Still preaching?  Did he think of no one else but the crowds? Why did He not come with them?  If He was here, He could still the waves as He had done before. Yet, their Master had sent them out alone to face the wind and the waves and to strain and fight with these oars all blasted night long. Peter could not see where they were going in the darkness, the waves heaved the boat around like a cork and tears flowed down his cheeks from the wind.

“Look!”  Someone yelled over the wind, “it’s a ghost!”

Resting against his oar, Peter turned his aching head and blinking tears from his eyes, he peered through the darkness. There on the waters was a shimmering light and inside the light, he could just make out a white form.  Peter’s heart pounded and his muscles froze. He rubbed at his eyes frantically.  He heard gasps around him as every mind in the boat thought of the apparent apparition as being an omen of death.

Then a familiar voice came across the surging, dark waves, “Be of good cheer, It is I.  Do not be afraid!”

Peter immediately said, “My Lord if it is really you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come.”

And Peter did not hesitate. He climbed over the edge of the boat and stepped onto the waters.  “Jesus.”  I imagine him saying.  The waves heaved, the boat was tossed away from him, spray flew in his face.  “Jesus!”  The darkness engulfed him.  His eyes were on the shimmering form of his Lord.  He walked and did not sink.  “Jesus!” Coming closer to his beloved teacher, he could see His face.

Then the wind almost blew Peter over.  It tugged at his robe and threw water in his face, his hair whipped into his eyes.  Peter glanced down at the tossing waves, the water below his feet was dark and cold and roiling.  His heart pounded.  What am I doing!

He began to sink. The icy water was up to his knees and rising.  “Lord!”  He cried in desperation, “Lord save me!”

In an instant Jesus was beside him and reaching out He grabbed Peter by the hand. Peter was pulled from the water to stand close against the side of Jesus, who said with a chuckle, “Oh you of little faith. Why did you doubt?”

Oh friend, that is me.  I’m in my little secure boat, everything is running along smoothly, suddenly the wind comes up and I find myself straining at the oars.  It’s not a big storm mind you, just a squall, “the wind is contrary”, as Mathew puts it.  It’s blowing against me and the waves are heaving, but it’s not an out and out storm.  It’s not a big thing I face, just a small problem.  Things are a bit out of sorts.

For instance the other night when the temps were falling rapidly and the wind was seeping into the house and the open fireplace heater in the living room would not stay lit.  I’d light the pilot light and fire up the stove only to have it go off in ten minutes.  With the wind chill down around minus 20 and below, the cold was seeping in quickly.  I turned up the thermostat and the furnace fired up. Only to turn off in a few minutes.  After three minutes or so it started again, then turned off, then started.  After doing this several times it ran smoothly and soon the house was warm.

But—worry seeped into my mind.  Was something wrong with the furnace?  Would it quit too?  With no back up of the little stove.  Oh yeah we had a propane back up stove in the basement so the pipes wouldn’t freeze and there’s the electric heaters, but what if the power goes off? So you see it was a little problem, just contrary winds blowing across my life, but I stressed over it.  Became anxious.  Got a headache.  Why does this have to happen when it’s so cold? I cried.

Then Jesus called across the roiling waves, “Come to me.”

“But wait Lord, then I have to walk out on those waves!”  I’m not quite as quick to jump as Peter.

“Just come to me, lay it at My feet and let Me handle it, Child.”

“Okay I can do that.”  So I climb out of the boat and I face that squall head on.  The waves toss under my feet.  The wind tugs at my clothes, but I keep my eyes on Jesus.  And I walk across those heaving waves.   I sing and I praise Him.

“I’m coming to stand by your side, Lord, I’m putting it in Your hands.”

The cold dark water boils and roils.  I try the heater one more time.  It goes out again.  I feel icy water on my face as I look at the waves.  And stomp my feet. And rail against the winter.

I sink.

The roiling water is up to my knees, my waist, over my head.

“Jesus!”  I cry.

Suddenly I am grabbed by my hand and pulled up to stand beside Jesus on the waters.  I look into His face and see His little smile.

“Oh you of little faith,” He says with a twinkle in His eyes, “why do you doubt?”

I cling to Him and the waves heave, the wind flings water in my face, the darkness is deep around me, but I am safe by His side.

Then we step into the boat and the winds cease.  I try the little stove again and it fires up and keeps burning, still is going today.

Now things don’t always resolve just like that, instantly, but they always get resolved.  Eventually.  More times than not the little problems resolve themselves or they cease.  They go away.  I imagine more problems than ever come about.

When there is a big storm brewing in my life I usually give it to Him immediately. I call out to Jesus who is sleeping in the boat, I say, “Jesus! Jesus! Still the waves!”

But when it’s just a squall I think I can handle it, I bend my back to the oars and keep rowing. And stewing.  And stomping.

If I do go to Him, I soon look at my circumstances and not my Lord.  I fret.   I sink.  Worry comes up to my knees and goes over my head.

Jesus always sees His children, He knows their fears, their anxieties, their problems.  He knows when the contrary winds are blowing and the rowing is tough, when the boat is thrown around on roiling waves.  He sees and He comes.

I don’t have to sink.  I don’t have to worry. I can call out to Jesus. I can give it all to Him.  I can look at His face.  I can cling to Him.  I can be still and know He is God!

I can trust.

“And when they got in the boat the winds ceased.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” Math. 6:32-33

From Mark 6:7-13, 30-52 and Math. 14:13-3

Such a sight to get your hear pounding

Hunting with a camera

Spotted

See those horns

Retreat

Curiosity killed the deer!

The only shooting is with a camera today

Live well, my friend