3.13.20

I feel like one of the ways the devil tries to attack is by trying to get me to believe I have some control of my own life. When the devil whispers these lies, fear creeps in because I become worried about what will happen if things don’t work out like I believe they should. I am never in control. So acting like I am or can be, only leads to worry and fear.

In Isaiah it says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” So despite the lies, we are never in control, but it’s okay! Because this promise from the One who is in control offers hope.

Every day I need to remind myself of this and surrender – fear will have no grip on me. Just let go, because I am in the boat with the one whom the wind and the waves obey. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in Mark chapter 4:

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!”

Two aspects of this story I love:

Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. He wasn’t yelling from the shore or another boat – He was in the boat with them… and He’s in the boat with me right now. Secondly, I love how the disciples were afraid of the storm, then they realized something more powerful than the storm was in their boat – and they became afraid of Jesus. Whatever storms I’m going through, I need to remind myself something more powerful than any storm is in the boat with me. Fear not.