I had the privilege of attending an awesome sermon this past weekend. It was about the storm in Matthew 14:22-33. The pastor did a great job peeling back layers of complexity to reveal the goodness of God. The gist of the sermon was that God sometimes “makes” us go into storms, either for correction as in the case of Jonah, or for perfection as in the case of Peter.
There are many things to glean from this sermon and I intend to spend the week understanding and absorbing it all until I master the application. But today, I want to talk about what stood out to me most. God is with us always. We know this and it should not come as a mystery, but the fact that He would want to be with me in the storm, not just wanting but actually keeping His promise, underscores God’s faithfulness in a way that takes my breath away. As He promised in Joshua 1:9
‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”’
-Joshua 1:9
I would not recommend spending time with me when I am sad and mopey. I can get whiny, negative, and in some cases downright unbearable. And yet God wants to be with me when I am like that. Even I do not want to be with me during those times, but our one true God does. The phrase “He is with us on the mountains and in the valleys” can be translated simply as “He is with us through the whiny times and the jubilant times.”
When our friends in Hollywood show us how to cope with heartbreak over a pint of ice cream, they forget to mention that He is right there sharing that pint with us. And when we are on a high, things going our way, He is right there clapping and cheering, happy for us. I pray that I pause during these times, and in between, to look at Him and be grateful for the joy, the pain, the perfection, the correction, and the companionship. We are never alone. Just that thought should propel us into a state of continual joy.
I intend to head into the week with a spring in my step, knowing that He is right there by my side. I pray that your day and your week grow brighter with the knowledge of His constant presence in your life. God bless you.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for peeling back the layers to reveal Yourself to us. I do not deserve nor fully understand the great and mighty things You show me, and yet You still take the time to teach and guide me. May I be worthy and brave enough to endure any storm of perfection or correction You have crafted for me. With You, I have nothing to fear. Amen.