Riding out the storm

How many times in life do we find ourselves troubled, anxious or worried about the situation we are in?   Things that cause us anxiety or to feel like we are in a state of crisis may involve relationship issues with family/friends, finances, health issues, uncertainty regarding work, uncertainty about the the future - just about anything that the world can throw at us - generally cause us all some level of anxiety.   What does the bible tell us about how to handle these times in our life?   Plenty.   However, I like to equate our troubles to the story of when Jesus calmed the storm as described in Mark 4:25-41 and Luke 8:22-25:

Mark 4:25-41

Luke 8:22-25

Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat.   There were also other boats with Him. A furious storm 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 the disciples, "Why are you 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!"

One day Jesus said to His disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"  He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.  In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water and they obey him."

The question that is common between the two that everyone focuses on involves faith.   I agree, you have to have faith that God is with us and will see us through our storms.   However, why do you think Jesus asks the question "Why are you afraid?"   Doesn't that seem like an odd question to ask on a nearly swamped/sinking boat in the middle of a storm with waves crashing down around you?   Isn't the answer for why the disciples were afraid obvious?   Is Jesus haven't a "Duh!" moment?

I don't think Jesus is asking a stupid question, nor is he having a "Duh!!" moment.   I think it has more to do with:

1. A demonstrated lack of faith on the part of the disciples;
2. A fundamental flaw in how we view ourselves (our identity) and the world around us.

I'm going to focus more on my current thoughts around how we view ourselves and the world around us.   

From the moment we are born, we strive to find acceptance and love or, put another way, trying to fit in and avoid rejection.   As we grow, we focus on different ways to be accepted.   We focus on sports, church, career, accumulating wealth, or relationships.   In doing these things, we begin to wrap ourselves and perceive our identity by pursuing the following lies of the world:

• The world can offer security;
• Wealth can save us from irrelevance;
• That relationships - with either friends, our spouse/significant other or children, will satisfy our need for acceptance/love; 
• That our appearance or position in society give us value.

When we do these things, we are placing our identity in the values of the world and not in Jesus.  The more we buy into any of the above lies and the values of the world, the more power and significance we give them in our lives.   In doing so, we make those things (wealth, relationships, appearance, jobs, athletics, etc.) the god we serve/worship.

What we are blind to is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that we have become the son or daughter of the one true God.   Not only that, but we are now one with Christ.  

Galatians 2:20 tells us that "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

Further, Ephesians 2:6 says that "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ.  

Don't you see, when we accept Jesus, our old selves, this clay vessel that we call our earthly bodies dies and we are crucified and resurrected with Christ.   In a very similar way that we have the mystery of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Ghost), we are now one in Christ!   

Think on this for a minute.   Since we are now one with Christ, there is no condemnation for us.   We have been made complete in Jesus.   That is a powerful gift and is where we should be placing our identity.   Can you imagine how much different the world (and we) look when we are looking at ourselves thru the eyes of Jesus?    Jesus sees us as we truly are - complete in Him.   Further, he sees beyond the earthly realm that our human eyes see.  Jesus sees the beauty of the heavenly realm that the reality we live in is subject to.   Jesus sees that our current realm is only temporary and that the heavenly realm that He can see is superior to what we are experiencing in every way.

Jesus see's the life, love, joy, and peace in an eternal union with His Father, that is manifesting itself on earth in a most spectacular fashion.  

So when we are in the storms that our life brings our way; when all we can see are dark clouds and nothing by fear and dread; we are seeing things as the world would have us see them and are viewing things through our worldly eyes.   We are allowing ourselves to be blinded and are buying into the lies of the world.   To overcome this, we need to view things through our spiritual eyes and remember the promises and power we have in Jesus.   Once we do that, it becomes clear, there is nothing to be afraid of.   Who can harm our Heavenly Father?  

No one.

Again, "Why are you afraid?"

Casting Crowns -Voice of Truth:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpWozyQ2QH4

Todd Agnew - The Love of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GdMS0KEnzk