SEA OF GLASS

You remember the story....

Jesus was taking the boat to the opposite shore to get away from the crowds. He asked his disciples to join Him.

 A violent windstorm came up, and the waves began breaking into the boat, 

so that the boat was rapidly becoming swamped.

 But Jesus was in the back of the boat, asleep on a cushion. 

So they woke Him up and asked Him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to die?”

Mark 4:37-38 

The sea was calm and peaceful at the start. There was no hesitation from anyone as to whether they should make the journey. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a storm of great magnitude came upon them! They panicked, felt helpless, uncertain and incredibly fearful and out of control.

Life does that to us more than we care to admit. Totally blindsides us, sidelines us. Events surprise us. Circumstances catch us unaware. "Why me?!" "Not again!" Rather than act, we react. We react with...

Of course, there is a healthy type of fear, a rational fear, that helps rather than hinders. The fear that we sense when something truly dangerous to our health and well being is threatening.

The type of fear we experience that interferes with all that we are created to be for His glory is irrational fear. Self doubt, insecurity, persecution. Fear of rejection, failure or exclusion. Fear of being alone, forgotten. The list goes on. The weight of this type of fear drags us down. It is baggage bearing great weight that drags us under. We carry it with us at all times. 

We choke on it. It suffocates. We retreat with it. It inhibits us.  It steals our joy. It is a thief. And, worst of all, 

Yes, fear is a liar.

I am in a season of uncertainty in my journey in this life. This past year has brought changes, heartache, challenge and, yes, fear. The past eleven years I have been plagued by it. And, honestly, as I look back, fear has been lying to me my entire life.

Recently, nothing terribly serious has happened but yet a series of unfortunate events have changed my life in ways that I didn't expect. It has brought me, in some ways, out of my comfort zone. Into uncharted waters. I've been set off course to a new destination.

Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of the future. Fear of being hurt, alone, forgotten.

Most of all, fear of not making my life count for His glory. 

I long to be on a sea of glass with my sails unfurled headed with eyes focused upon my certain destination. A sea of calm, a sea of tranquility. Perfect wind in my sails. A gentle breeze on my face. Pleasant temperatures surrounding my presence. A heart full of joy and anticipation in what lies ahead.

I long to set sail with no fear, no regrets, no uncertainty. In or out of my comfort zone. Gazing at the beauty of sunrise and sunset in the clear, endless sky. Gazing at the still moon's reflection over glassy waters beneath my skiff. Resting my head with confidence and sleeping a deep, undisturbed sleep. Just like Jesus did. But I can't. Fear has whispered lies and I've listened. I am fearful of what lies ahead....

Then He got up, rebuked the wind, and told the sea, “Calm down! Be still!” 

Then the wind stopped blowing, and there was a great calm.   

He asked them, “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith yet?”

 Overcome with fear, they kept saying to one another, “Who is this man? 

Even the wind and the sea obey him!”

Mark 4:39-41

Or can I? With Jesus, yes, I can do all of that. Even in the here and now. He promises His presence. Always. He promises me a future and a hope. He promises me that He will never leave me of forsake me. He promises He will be my strength and my guide. He promises me that He will go before me. He is for me and not against me. And, so much more!

Tear your hearts, not your garments; 

and turn back to the Lord your God. 

For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to become angry, 

overflowing in gracious love, and grieves about this evil.

Joel 2:13 

Fear is a liar. The author of fear is the evil one, the father of lies, the devil himself. He wants us to fear and to run and hide. He wants us to doubt ourselves. He wants us to doubt every one of God's promises. He wants us, most of all to doubt His perfect, unconditional love for us. He wants us to question our very purpose and the reason for our existence. His desire is to render us unbelieving and ineffective for the Kingdom of God.

 This is how love has been perfected among us: 

we will have confidence on the day of judgment because, 

during our time in this world, we are just like him.  

There is no fear where love exists. 

Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, 

and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love. 

1 John 4:17-18

Where is my faith? Where is my faith in the storms of life when the wind and sea rage and I'm being tossed about like a boat in the ocean? Are my eyes fixed on the One True God? Is Jesus my anchor?

The devil would have me think that my Lord and my God has abandoned me. "I will never leave you or forsake you" says the Lord. I am NOT alone. Nothing is too big for Him to handle!

For you, God, tested us,
    to purify us like fine silver.
You have led us into a trap
    and set burdens on our backs. 

 You caused men to ride over us.
    You brought us through fire and water,
        but you led us to abundance.

Psalms 66:10-12

Read the last part of that verse. Over and over again. Abundance. He brings us through the fire to a life of abundance!

I can have that sea of glass as long as my heart and mind are stayed upon Him. Yes, here and now. I need to get on the boat, as His disciple, and stay there. Despite wind, rain and torrent. I must not abandon the ship.

I cannot listen to the lies that fear whispers.  The Lord has promised me the peace that surpasses all understanding and the gift of His Spirit to guide. I know His purposes. I know His promises. I know His plans. I know His unfailing love. I know my destination. I know the evil one has already been defeated!

But when I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

I praise God for what He has promised.

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me? 

Psalms 56:3-4

Where there is fear, His love has been cast out, rejected. Where fear exists, there is lack of trust, belief, love and faith in Him. Where His love exists, fear cannot exist simultaneously. Fear becomes fallacy and love and truth reign supreme.

 

FEAR NOT

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 

I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 

Isaiah 41:10

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, 

Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ 

Isaiah 41:13

I must confess that, for me in this moment, I have to consciously make this choice. Out of obedience to Him knowing He is love. Out of obedience, fruit will come forth. Each day that passes will be born of love rather than fear. Each day, it will become a more natural, integral part of my being. The sea will become more and more a sea of glass... And, then, I will truly be ready to walk on water with Him.

Hallelujah! Give thanks to the Lord, since He is good, for His gracious love exists forever. 

Psalms 106:1

Water Walking

Lost. Do you ever feel that way?

I do. In different seasons of life for different reasons. My senses warn of the danger in the uncertainty ahead.

Forgotten. Do you ever feel that way?
I do. In smallness among the large, the powerful, the influential. In the urban sprawl. In my quiet amid the increasing noise.

Lonely. Do you ever feel that way?
I do. In the push and pull of everyday life. A lone ranger. In the thick of it surrounded by people, where you feel like you're drowning and no one cares. An ant in the colony rushing to and fro without end.

Right now, I'm in a season of feeling lost, forgotten and lonely all at the same time. My mind counts hours adrift, reflect on days gone by where my life had more defining moments, my purpose seemed more clear. My life is starting to look different than it did just a few short years ago. One subtle change after another. Some good, some not so good. Or so it seems.

The perception is that life is bit slower. A bit emptier, too. Unfortunately, my instinct is to grab and hold on to what is left rather than lose it all.  I do know I can't. Change is inevitable. My attempts at it are like grasping for the wind.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

So I try to fill the void with something else made, created, contrived. Creating a need and filling it. Pursuing a relationship with no real connection or purpose. Contriving busyness that serves no meaningful purpose. So I won't feel lost, forgotten, and lonely. So I will feel wanted, needed, useful. So the hole will be filled. By me. Do you have seasons like that?


It is times such as these that I question my future, my purpose, my reason for being.  Fear and doubt creep in. They take hold and try to plant roots in my heart and my mind. You, too? But yet....

.....I know I have a purpose in Him. He promises me that. I realize He loves me unconditionally. He promises me that. It is the believing without seeing that is the most difficult. It is the water walking that creates the anxiety. The fear of depths, the fear of the unknown.  Too many sharks. Too many giant squids that might take me under....

Over time, I've come to realize that being lost, lonely or forgotten is not what I should feel at any time. Yes, it is a fight with the flesh to overcome. It gets easier with time but a battle nonetheless. A spiritual battle won only by relying on Him who holds my future in the palm of His hand.

We live in a world where the general consensus is that we are suppose to 'have it all together.'  We are suppose to have a multitude of friendships, be smart, lovely in appearance, driven to succeed, organized, successful in business or whatever endeavor we choose. To be alone, to not know where we are headed, what lies around the corner is perceived as a flaw, a failing.

Yet, that is not what the Lord tells us.  We are ALL a mess on the inside. We all struggle. We are all lacking. Without Him, we are nothing. With Him, we are everything. An uncertain future is something we all have whether we want to realize it or not.  We can make our plans but He directs our steps. With Him, our future is secure!

With Him, we are cherished. We are loved. We are wanted, needed, desired.

With Him, we are conquerors. We are MORE than conquerors.  He never leaves our side.

With Him, we can do all things. With Him, nothing is impossible. In Him, we succeed.

With Him, we have family. We are family. Father, Son, brothers, sisters. We are included.

With Him, we have a secure future. With Him, we have a certain hope. We are not forgotten.

With Him, we are beautiful. From the inside out as He looks at the transformation of the heart.

Faith. Trust. Two simple words that mean so much to Him. To have faith and trust in Who He says He is and What He capable of.  Do I believe it? Really?  With those two things, He tells me, I can move mountains. And yes, I can also walk on water....

....because I am NEVER alone; He is always with me. Because I'm NEVER lost; I'm right where He wants me to be. Because I'm NEVER forgotten; my future is secure with Him. No, I don't have it all together but, our great God does! And, I know He can do so much better than I could ever do.

So I wait.... I wait for Him.... I take His hand, walk out on the water, and wait, watch, listen.... Knowing He is there, He is love, and He works all together for good.....  Come on in! I'll hold your hand... And, so will He!