We Are All in the Same Boat…

Matthew 8:23-26 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He *said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 

We ARE all in the same boat! Some boats may be rocking or some may be perfectly calm at this moment but…

John 16:33 In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Even if you don’t believe Jesus, we are all in the same boat.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 

So… when we ask, “Why me?”, the answer is… “It is your time”…

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. 

And… might I just add… A time to choose! Who you gonna call? Who you gonna ask for help from?

As an encourager, I’ll come if you ask me to. But, and though it might be helpful for a moment, I am limited to band aids and sympathy. I can’t make the boat stop rocking! I can’t stop the storm.

Who you gonna call?

Might I suggest we do as the disciples did…

They woke Jesus… who by the way was there in the boat with them… SLEEPING, not disturbed by the storm!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

But Mary, if God cared about me… if God could take away the suffering… if God wanted to help…

We think the best thing He could do for us is take this tribulation away.

Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

The BEST thing… no the GREATEST thing He can do and does for us is… BE WITH US!

We are all in the same boat…

If your boat aint rocking right now, it doesn’t mean you are safe from ALL the storms of life… it just might mean you have dry docked your boat and are hold up in storm cellar carefully crafted to keep out any and all chance of suffering. The problem is, it has to keep out the blessings too…  along with the people who might bring trouble with them.

I am often accused of believing in a myth… a fairy tale… The evidence that is used to accuse me is twofold. The fact of suffering and the fact that it isn’t removed by God. To me, the thought that WE decide our own destiny and therefore should be allowed to determine the right and wrong way of all things great and small on our earth is more wishful thinking than my belief. This may be what we WANT but when it comes to things that harm the body, soul, and spirit… every one of us is vulnerable… especially to death. Death is the ultimate myth buster!

I don’t believe in a god who promises heaven on earth! I think those who are pursuing heaven on earth are attempting to keep the wolves at bay and suffering to a minimum. If that doesn’t work, we either pretend (head in the sand) we never suffer or we blame someone/everyone else so we do not have to admit we are weak and fragile just like the rest.

I don’t believe in a god who is remote and waiting for the opportunity to strike us down. I don’t believe in a god who is at our beck and call. I don’t believe in a god who tells us lies to make us worship him.

I believe in God… who created us to be perfect like Himself… and gave us the only true gift of love – free will. I believe in God… who, when He was grieved by our rebellion, came, received, and paid the wages of our sin.

I believe in God… who continues to pursue relationship and fellowship with us… right here (in the midst of the storm)… right now (in the midst of the pain and fear and doubt)… Until the time of storms pass… the right time because He wishes none to perish!

We’re all in the same boat… It’s just that some of us know the One who controls the boat, calms the seas, and speaks to the storms… some of us know Jesus!

if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

I believe in Immanuel – God with us.

Open the door… this is your Captain calling…

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB  version of the Bible