Sleeping like a log
"Suddenly, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping” (NIV) Matthew 8:24
A wife one day woke up to a cool breeze weather and a wet porch. Totally surprised as to what could have happened, she thought of one thing “it might have rained last night”. Gathering the strength, she asked the husband “darling did it rain last night?” The husband responded, “it rained this morning, and you were sleeping like a log!”
The words of this man inspired this writing as I considered how Christians are supposed to live before the Almighty. God said we should come to him all that are weary and burdened and he will give us rest… (Matthew 11:28-30). As Christians, I believe we might have forgotten these words and as such we do not send everything to Jesus. Or better still, I could assume, we allow the troubles of this world to overwhelm us, we find it difficult to believe these words of the Lord. I believe the latter is often the case.
Beloved, it is high time we took a retrospective look at our Christian life and to whom we have come to. Hebrews 12:22-23 says “…you have come to mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… you have come to God, the judge of all…..”
This God gives us peace in the storms of life. John 14:27 says my peace I give you…do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Take it all to Jesus as you make time to pray and read the word of God. Meditate on it daily in season and out of season and write it on the tablets of your heart.
For God is able to carry you through the storms in His arms and cause you to sleep calmly like a baby. Only babies with no issues sleep like logs. And that, beloved, is our heritage in Christ. To lay it all at the feet of Jesus and go to bed like babies to rise to a new challenge for a new day and the strength He has promised to provide (Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 43:2, Genesis 28:15, Psalm 91:11, John 14:1-31, Deuteronomy 28).
The story of Jesus in the boat with his disciples is a classic example of what He expects from us (Mark 4:38-40, Matthew 8:23-27). We are to call on him in times of trouble and then to go to sleep as we watch him do what he does best – Calm the storm. Beloved we got to learn to truly trust God to calm the storms. I agree it is not always easy as spoken in practice but He has asked us to empty our burdens on Him (Psalm 55:22, Proverbs 16:31, 1 Peter 5:7). We must endeavor to leap to this act of faith for it pays indeed.
May these words of God comfort us always-"when you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up. The flames will not consume you." (Isaiah 43:2) Amen!