When You’re Stuck in a Storm, Don’t Lose Sight of the Other Side
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“And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’ Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes” (Mark 4:37-5:1).
Jesus and his disciples encountered a fierce, storm intended to capsize the boat and drown them, before reaching the region of the Gadarenes. This storm was so severe and the waves so violent that the disciples feared for their lives. In fact, these same disciples who saw amazing miracles at the hands of Jesus and witnessed His unfailing and unwavering love for humanity, began to question whether or not He cared if they survived. Because despite the strength of the storm and the panic of the men, Jesus was asleep.
Who hasn’t gone through a “life storm” that filled you with such fear and anxiety, you wondered if God actually cared? It’s likely we all have thought at some time, God, don’t you care about what I’m going through, what the enemy is doing in my life? Don’t you see my need, don’t you care about my health, or the attack on my children? Don’t you know my boat is taking on water and ready to capsize, and that I’m simply gasping for air?
But the account in Mark 4-5 assures us that if we endure during such a trial, God’s got something amazing for us on the other side. That means, don’t lose sight that on the other side of the Red Sea is your Promised Land, and on the other side of fighting Goliath is a King’s crown. After pain comes gain, and after your test, is your testimony. So don’t you dare give up before experiencing the turn-around.
“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Don’t lose sight of what’s on the other side! God has got something better, something greater, something significant for you on the other side of your storm.
Someone Who Needs You Is on the Other Side
“And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:2-5).
The man who met Jesus and the disciples as they got off the boat had an “unclean spirit.” Literally, this was someone who was controlled by a demonic force that was impure, filthy, lewd, foul and sexually vulgar. He cut himself and cried out all night. And the man had been living in a cemetery because no one could get physical control over him.
But it wasn’t just one unclean, evil spirit. It was actually a “legion” or 6,000 demons inhabiting this one man. He seemed crazy, unredeemable, beyond rehabilitation – a lost cause.
But he was valuable to Jesus.
Jesus knowingly went through a ship-sinking storm just to get to this ostracized man. He had decided, after a day of tiring ministry, that He needed to go to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes.
The region was mostly Gentile country, as can be inferred by the herds of swine grazing near-by.
Jesus went to a place and to a culture that was different than His, to a people that was considered an enemy to the Jewish people, and to a place that he knew would not receive him, for a meeting with this man. He was important to Jesus.
The enemy does not attack people who are not important to God. In basketball terms, if there is a player on the court that is constantly left open without anyone guarding them, it’s because the other team knows he is not a danger. They leave him open and double-team the star player to prevent them from being effective.
If you are under attack, it is not because you are not valuable or beyond the reach of God, but rather it is because you are important to God. If all hell is breaking lose in your life, it must be because you are a star player!
The size and severity of your storm is not an indication that God has abandoned you or that God doesn’t value you; it could mean that God has a special assignment for you to do amazing things in life!
Don’t quit. Somebody needs to know that God brought you through a storm that you thought was going to kill you. And if God did it for you, He can do it for them.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Assurance That God Cares Is on the Other Side
“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’” (Mark 4:35).
Jesus was exhausted. He had just finished performing magnificent miracles with massive crowds. He directed his disciples to cross over to the other side of the sea of Galilee, and headed to the back of the boat to grab some shut eye.
I can imagine the disciples wondered, why not go home for the night? Sleep in a real bed? Reconvene in the morning, regroup and plan for the day? Why cross over now?
“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones” (Mark 5:5).
I believe that Jesus heard the man’s tormented cry for help and was compelled by the love of God to seek him out. The man had been abandoned by everyone because human love has limitations. But God loves us with an everlasting love. Even when people abandon you and give you up to die, there is a God who never gives up. In fact, on the other side of our storm is an assurance of how much God cares.
If you’re still alive and kicking, God’s not done. So don’t lose sight of what’s on the other side!
God’s Power Is on the Other Side
One of the main themes of Mark’s gospel was the authority of Jesus Christ over the works of the enemy. He commanded disease and infirmity, wind and waves, and on the other side of a massive storm was a legion of demons who immediately recognized His authority and power.
“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you impure spirit!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area” (Mark 5:6-10).
After Jesus ordered the demons to come out of the man, they entered into a nearby herd of swine which immediately ran headlong off a cliff. They could not withstand the sudden influence of the demons. But this man, made in the image and likeness of God, was able to withstand them, to the point that he came running to Jesus even as the demons were talking through him.
Simply by virtue of the fact that this man was created in the image and likeness of God, he had a God-given power to withstand the destruction desired by the enemy. And when you, having the power of the Holy Spirit on the inside, get to the other side of your storm, you will realize how the power of God in your life enabled you to stand until you saw the victory.
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…” (Ephesians 6:13-14a).
On the other side you will have a revelation of the power of God like you never had it before. And you will realize that nothing is too hard for God. It doesn’t matter how badly the odds are stacked against you and how much power the devil has aimed at you. The power of the devil is no match for the power of God.
And when you get on the other side and you encounter the power of God, something will happen in your head from that moment forward – you’ll remain at peace in future storms. You’ll remember what God did for you before, and you can reason that if He did it before, He will do it again. You’ll become stronger because the devil loses his ability to affect your peace of mind. And you’ll stand firm and declare:
No devil, I’m not going fret – cause Jesus will do it again
I’m not going worry – cause Jesus will do it again
You can’t have my sleep – Jesus will do it again
You can’t have my imagination with your “what ifs” and “how wills” – Jesus will do it again!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Aleh Varanishcha
