“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” [Matthew 8:23-27]

I love this scripture. I love hearing songs related to this scripture. It’s encouraging and uplifting. There was no coincidence I am reading this right now as I struggle with feeling like I, as a being, and my efforts are enough. Everything I have been taught about this scripture has to do with Jesus calming the storm that not only raged around them but also inside of them. As if everything that is going wrong around them causes a mental and emotional disturbance. They’re freaked out. Unsure of what to do (Which perfectly describes how I feel). Then Jesus goes, “Take a chill pill, dude.”

Jesus is the chill pill. I tend to forget that. I tend to do everything but run to Jesus when things go wrong. It should be the first thing I do. That should be an automatic instinct if my soul and spirit are aligned. It has to be in my nature if I’m walking with the Holy Spirit. God wants us to do that every day. Every moment something goes “wrong.” We also have to run to Him when things are going great as an act of gratitude. But we should always be grateful. There is always something to thank the Lord about. Especially His love and our life. He loved me so much, He gave me life.

Jesus came to save. He is the Savior we all wanted thousands of years ago. He is the Savior we need today. He is the essence of life and safety. He has no other option but to be a life saver. He wants to save me from the storm I am going through. He wants to throw the life saver at me and He wants me to grip on with any strength I have left. Stress and deceit want to drown me, but Jesus doesn’t want me to drown that way. If Jesus wants me to drown, I’ll drown in His love for me and my love for Him.

That’s what He wants. He speaks to me so clearly. “I know it feels like you’re drowning. I know it feels like this will last forever. I know it feels like you can’t get out of the place you’re in. You can drown in love, joy, and peace. Know that this storm is only temporary. Seek me, and you’ll find rest.” He wants me to know and trust that He is right beside me. Sometimes He lets storms come because He wants to see that we mean it when we say we’ll trust Him and seek Him first. He wants to make sure we won’t lose sight of who He is through the dark clouds that cover our view of what’s ahead. 

Father, I thank You for the gift that is the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that draws me to seek You in times of trouble. It is the Spirit that leads me into thanksgiving. It is the Spirit that leads me into praise and worship. Thank You for always being there when I need You. I may feel like I’m falling apart, but You pick up the pieces and put me together once again. It happens often, but You don’t mind one bit. You do it out of love. Your love for me is so grand. I can only pray and hope to love You as much as You deserve. I can never love You as much as You love me. I want to love You first. I want to love You more and more each day. I want to love You with all I have. I want to love You with all my heart, mind, and soul. I want to love You from a stable state of being. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never get to that place because there is always something that has me feeling beaten. The more I seek You, the stable I become, right? I will seek You until the end of my days. I will seek You until You take me to be with You. This is a covenant. I am in this forever. You shed Your blood for my life. You gave it all for me. I, too, will give it all for You. My life and love is Yours alone. You have total control. You have stayed with me even when I left You. I want to stay with You even when it feels like You have left me. I won’t let the storm I sail through wear and tear my heart. You won’t let it happen. You want my life. You want my heart. Take it, Lord. Have Your way. I pray You constantly reveal Yourself to me. It is through that very action in which I fall more and more in love with You. I choose to love You because You choose to love me. You have no other option but to do so. You are Love. May You speak into every situation I face. May Your words and actions leave my body. May I walk in Your Light, Your Love, Your Mercy, Your Joy, Your Peace, Your Wisdom. Amen.