By Glenn Ahrens, Earthly Director
EL SHADDAI אל שדי CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES Inc.
Remember when life seemed so simple? You did not have to worry about being shot when you walked someplace or turning the TV on with kids in the room and be afraid they were going to see something that we would have cringed at, that we would’ve considered totally inappropriate. Today you cannot even go to church without worrying about some maniac coming in and shooting people regardless of your faith. I think the expression that we would’ve used back then about what’s going on now is “going to hell in a hand basket”.
This reminds me of the story in the Bible in Mark 4, where Jesus calmed the seas. Verse 37 and 38 state “a furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the Stern, sleeping on a cushion.. The disciples will him and said to him, ‘teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’”
How often do we get so caught up in work and things going on around us that we feel like we don’t even have time to think? So often we get so busy that we start to neglect important things like our spouses, family, and friends. I feel most importantly that we also neglect our Creator. To me the story in Mark 4 reminds me of life.
We get so involved in life that we feel like we are on a boat in the middle of a major storm. As an avid sailor I have been there and it is no fun. The problem is while focusing on the storm we allow little things to slip by us. All arguments, in my opinion, start out as tiny disagreements or misunderstandings and can grow into major battles, separations, or not talking to those that used to be our best friends or even family. We need to take time as the expression says to “smell the roses”.
Life can be the most beautiful experience on Earth or the biggest nightmare. The thing that we seem to forget is that the choice is ours to make. We often overlook who else is in the boat with us. We have a wonderful God who is always there for us. According to Mark’s account, Jesus was not happy. In his frustration he yelled, “Peace, Be Still!” The storm and the huge waves stopped immediately. The literal translation of, Be Still, taken from the Greek, is-hush! Or in modern terms: Shut up!
We need to fix the things that we have control over and pray for those that we don’t.
This brings to mind Psalm 46. 1st 10 starts out “be still, and know that I am God;”. So often we ask God for everything but don’t want to give him anything.
Unfortunately for some God does not work that way. God will always answer us but we don’t stop to listen or put down media items that so many are so obsessed with that that’s all that matters. The act of being still and getting quiet becomes a big challenge in our hectic world. The world asked us to be busy, but God asks us to be still so that we can and receive his love, peace and guidance.
God Bless
