MARK 4:35-40: “As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” NLT

OBSERVATION: Where am I going? This is a question that we face over and over again throughout our lives. It is a question that changes throughout the seasons of life. When we are young, we wonder, “What will I do when I grow up?” When we are old, we wonder, “What will I do now that my career is over?” No matter what stage of life we find ourselves in, we wonder…

Where am I going?

The Christian life is a call to walk by faith and not by sight. It is a call to learn obedience even when the path is unclear. It is a call to trust the Lord in all situations. Many times, as we walk with the Lord, the road we find ourselves on is not the road we had imagined. There are twists and turns, obstacles, and the direction becomes unclear. The disciples had heard Jesus say, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake,” but now they were faced with a storm that threatened their lives. At this moment, they wondered…

Where are we going?

To make matters worse, Jesus was sound asleep at the back of the boat, resting with His head on a cushion. As the wind and waves rose around them, Jesus’ words were quickly forgotten. They did not remember His command. They only focused on the storm. Jesus knew where He was going, so He could rest in the full assurance of the Father’s protection. The disciples could only see the turn of events, and this literally rocked their world!

As I ponder this familiar account in the Gospel of Mark, I am reminded of a wonderful statement from David in the book of Psalms.

Psalms 37:23-25: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” NLT

David, toward the end of his life, looks over all the paths that he has traveled. As he does, he recalls the faithfulness of God. The believer does not wander aimlessly through life. The Lord directs the believer’s very steps. The Lord is actively interested and involved in every detail of our lives. When you and I stumble along the way, the Lord sustains us; He holds us by the hand. In all the stages of life, He guides, He sustains, and He provides!

Jesus was confident in God’s promise that He was going to cross over to the other side. This is why Jesus could rest in the midst of the storm. The disciples (and we) struggle with what we see more than resting in what God has promised. We allow the tyranny of the immediate steal the peace of His promise. When we remember God’s faithfulness, when we focus on His promise, when we are anchored in His unfailing love, we hear the words…

“PEACE BE STILL!”

The wind and the waves we are facing are stilled. His presence fills our hearts with blessed hope and assurance. We may not know where we are going at the moment, but we know that He is guiding us and that He has not forgotten us. We too can rest in the storms of life as we walk in His peace that surpasses all human understanding.

This morning, I find myself in the boat, wondering where I am going. There are storms raging and temptations to focus on the uncertainty of this life. Yet, when I look closer, I see Jesus. In His eyes, I find the faith and strength to rest, trust, and sail on. He is charting the course of my life (and yours)! He knows exactly where He is leading me. His faithfulness will both sustain me and bring me to shore! The writer of Hebrews reminds me,

Hebrews 2:8-9: “You gave them authority over all things.” Now, when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who, for a little while, was given a position “a little lower than the angels,” and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.”

I may not always see or know the destination around the next turn in the journey of life. Yet there is one thing that is always sure…

“I SEE JESUS!”

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that You are guiding every step that I take. Your faithfulness, provision, and promise are guiding me through every season and storm of life. Open my eyes and fill my heart with faith. In every circumstance, around every turn, through every storm, help me to remember…

“I SEE JESUS!”

In Jesus’ Name!