Daily Wisdom 01-28-2002 Calming the Passengers

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Calming the Passengers

A group was sailing in a ship when fierce winds began to blow suddenly and the sea became agitated. A man rushed everywhere looking for the captain. Finally he found him sleeping. "Captain!" he screamed. "The ship is sinking! We are perishing!"

The captain awoke, stretched peacefully and calmly said "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"

Only if that man totally trusts the captain's skills and mighty power, will he submit and wait for his action. Otherwise, he'd prefer that the captain become a dinner for the fish and take control of the ship himself - it is not time for faith anyway, he may think, action is more important.

Satan's appealing trick is often instant action for instant satisfaction... no time for faith and waiting for God. To play it successfully, he implants ungodly fears in our life. Fear of the future, failure, death, loneliness.

Even fears that we are ineffective, useless servants for God and our beloved. Then he unceasingly shouts, "Act... instantly!"

Jesus on the other hand calmly says, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"(Matthew 8:26)"Without Me you can do nothing."(John 15:5)"If you would believe you would see the glory of God"(John 11:40)

Okay, we live "action-less" then? No! Rather, we live in good touch with God to be able to hear Him when He says, "Now have faith and wait for my action" or when He says, "Act now."

Back to the happy end of the ship story, the Captain, Jesus, after rekindling faith in His disciples, "arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm."(Matthew 8: 26)Jesus is ready to do the same in your life if you just give Him chance.

Let the Holy Spirit rekindle your faith. How? Spend quiet moments with God, pray, cast your fears before Him, let your soul relax and help your mind to stop spinning with those excessive thoughts. Trust that God will accomplish the rest and engulf you with "great calmness".

"My Jesus, You are my life's Captain. Kindle (or rekindle) my faith and trust in You. Glorify Your name in my life through both my stillness and my actions. Amen."

Contributed by Maria Hanna
Comments/Feedback are welcome.