Transformational Thought
For today’s Stepping Stones, let me take you back to your childhood. No, I am not hypnotizing you. Just remember back to when you were a 5 year old. It’s a dark, eerie night. The wind is blowing and making mysterious noises outside your window. Then Booming thunder! Bright flashes of lightning! Scary thunderstorms frighten little kids because you know you are powerless over these overwhelmingly powerful and intensely stimulating storms. You are afraid to even leave your bed and are hoping somebody can come to your rescue.
Next scene, your parents come down the hall, and one of two scenarios will play out. If the child has been obedient, respectful, and submissive to their parents’ authority and power over them, therefore recognizing and bestowing authority to their parents to have power over the child’s everyday activities, the child will be confident that their parents have the power and authority to protect them from the storm. The parents’ words and actions will soothe and they’ll feel comforted and safe in their parents loving and protective all more powerful arms.
On the other hand, if the child has disrespected, rebelled against, and overthrown the parents‘ power and authority, and the kid is the one calling the shots regarding privileges and discipline, and who rules the house, bedtime, and now has the parents wrapped around their finger, then the child won’t be confident in their parents’ abilities to protect from the storm. Even though the parents come through the door to save them, they’ll still be scared and anxious. The child will think, I can’t stop the storm and I have more power than you, so you certainly can’t overpower the storm, so go back and bring someone more powerful than you and me who can protect me from this storm.
In Mark 4, the disciples (some of them experienced fisherman) and Jesus were hanging out in a boat at sea. A powerful storm hit, so powerful that even these experienced fisherman were frightened for their lives. They woke up Jesus and accused Him of not caring whether or not they died. Jesus exerted His power and authority over everything … and calmed the storm.
The disciples had put their confidence in themselves and their own knowledge, not in Jesus and His character, skills, teachings, and promises. They ranked their own power above that of Jesus! What would you have done in this Bible story? Would you have gone to Jesus?
Think about the storms in your life. Do you really trust God’s power? Are you respectful, obedient, and submissive to His authority in all areas of your life? If so, your confidence will come from and be in Him and in what He brings to the table. You will have bold confidence, assurance, hope, and peace in the storms of your life. Don’t wait for the storms to come to begin trusting Him … not because He won’t help you. He will help. The problem is, you won’t believe it because you have been ignoring Him in non-stormy times, overthrowing Him just like the rebellious 5 year old we talked about, putting trust and confidence only in yourself. It’s a pretty limited pool of power this trusting in your own power trip we are on, compared to trusting in God’s omnipotence.
Today, examine the source of your confidence even in the little events of daily life. Is it from elements that are about you … or from Him? Begin to trust Him in all things, especially the little events of the day. Get your confidence from Him. Then it will be easy and natural to trust Him during life’s stormy times and your ability to navigate life’s storms will truly be miraculous. The source for your power, you or God, is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Father, I come to rest in Your loving presence. I know this day and the days before me will bring difficulties. It is my human way to think my way through these trials on my own. Please remind me that You are with me … that I am not alone in the midst of this storm. I pray that You will send your peace, the peace that passes all understanding to all those praying and growing with the Stepping Stones Devotionals. My Lord, strengthen all of us and prepare us for this day … transform our fears and anxieties into confident trust in you, our Lord and God. I pray this in the name my source of confidence, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
… and he rose and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea; “Peace, be still” and the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39
my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:2-4
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8