SPRING FLING
Falling in love with Jesus is not just a fling. It’s time to grow in Christ!
March 13th, 2023
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John 14:18, ‘”I promise that I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans—I will come back to you!”’ (TPT)
Storms of any kind are common to life, wouldn’t you agree? In fact, it seems these past many months, it has been more common to face storms and trudge through their aftermath, than to not have one at all! Every time another one makes landfall, whether it is rain or snow, tsunamis and earthquakes, hurricanes or wildfires, disasters hemorrhage and plead for relief.
One night a storm pummeled a sea that previously had been quite calm. The small dinghy was tussled by the sudden storm while its contents were being terrorized by a torrential downpour all around them. The men were terrified as the waves overtake their fishing vessel, threatening to capsize it. All the while, their Master is asleep on a cushion in the stern of the boat. His friends are piqued at Him. Doesn’t He even care?! they mumble, before crying out to Him in a panic and shaking Him from His sleep. Not only does He not admonish them for wakening Him from His rest, but we find Jesus unconfounded by the storm. He questions His disciples’ fearfulness, but rather than criticizing their foolishness, He instead rebukes the cause of their fear—the wind and the waves, which immediately calm at His rebuttal.
So, as we wade through rivers, and trek alongside snowbanks higher than we, and pilfer in landslides, and frantically unearth what is lost and left of our lives in the rubble, we must remember He has been there in the storm with us. He does not stand outside the waves which ravage our souls, wringing His hands in despair, unsure how to get through the gusts and the gales to rescue those He loves. He is in the midst of it, right with us, and even though we never see a snatch of Him, His presence is looming in the middle of the mess, ready to supply our needs and providing a peace that is able to surpass any understanding available to mankind. He may appear to be asleep, but He is available at the smallest cry or the loudest bang to assist us as we traverse this rocky terrain that makes up our lives. And He cares for you and for me. We are His passion, and who He is passionate about, is each one of us.
Isaiah 55:10-11, ‘”As the snow and rain that fall from heaven do not return until they have accomplished their purpose, soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life, providing seed to sow and bread to eat, so also will be the Word that I speak; it does not return to Me unfulfilled. My Word performs My purpose and fulfills the mission I sent it to accomplish.”’ (TPT)
