I saw this Poem on Facebook a few weeks ago:
We are not all in the same
‘BOAT’
We are in the same
‘STORM’
Some have yachts,
Some have canoes
And some are
‘Drowning’
Just be kind &
HELP when you can!
By: Damien Barr
When we lost our income because of COVID, the saying we are all in this together just rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like everybody’s struggles during this pandemic are not the same.
During this time, God kept on saying to me. “Be still and know I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
We hear that quoted often. But what does it mean to be still and know who God is?
For the Hebrew nation “be still” meant enough. For me, it meant enough of feeling sorry for myself. Enough of being angry about the situation. But to acknowledge and know who God is. Know that God is in control. Know that God knows my needs and knows what is best for me.
Matthew 14:25-31
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said”.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
When Peter kept his focus on Jesus, he was able to walk on water. But the moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focus on the raging storm around him Peter started to sink.
I started to focus on Jesus, rather than the “storm”. When my focus changed, I did not feel like I was drowning anymore. Suddenly, my problems did not look so big. There was a calmness in my soul, knowing that God is in control. My prayer started to change. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I started to thank God that He had the right job for Louis. That we got to go on this amazing 7-month road trip. All because God supplied all our needs.
Isaiah 44:1-2
“But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
When you go through the storm, Be still and Know Who God is. God is with us in the storm. The water will not sweep over us. We will not be harmed. When we focus on God instead of the storm, we will be able to “walk on water”. But if we take our eyes off God, and start to “sink”, we just need to ask God for help; He is a merciful God who saves. When Peter started to sink, He called out to Jesus, Jesus grabbed his hand and saved him.