Captain's Log

I am an experienced sailor and fisherman by trade. The rest of the crew is just as experienced as I am with how our boat handles, how well we each can handle the tasks of manning a boat in all weather; and we know what the weather can be like out here. When we go out, we aren't going out without a solid understanding of what is going on out here.

Tonight, we are asked to take the boat out to sea. As we stow away our equipment, our passenger, and settle into a night navigating the sea, a heavy squall kicks up in our midst... nothing too concerning, at least not at first.

The wind, waves, and rain gets more and more radical and even with our combined experience and skill, this squall is beating us, the water level in the boat is getting more and more serious and we are in danger of capsizing and sinking in this hugangous storm. Okay, I admit it, I and the rest of the crew are afraid for our lives.

In the stern area of the boat, and seemingly the only dry place, our passenger is sound asleep during all this...odd and also amazing.

The crew can't understand how in this real life and death situation, we know we can and just might all drown, he is sound asleep. So we wake him up and ask, "Don't you care if we drown?"

He gets up and simply says to the storm, "Quiet! Be still!" And the weather dies out and we are now on a calm sea. AMAZING!

***

Okay, how often do I think I am facing a crisis; a life and death situation... fully knowing that Jesus is with me, yet also thinking that He's just going to stay dry and asleep as I perish... How often do I cry out, "Don't You even care?"

Then in the midst of all the storm in my life, he simply says, "Quiet! Be still!" And then everything is as it should be... My boat got rocked, my little world was in the midst of the storm, and Jesus is with me...where is my faith?

Why am I afraid?

Who is this Jesus? In know He is the Son of God, but do I KNOW, really KNOW in my heart and soul that He does care...

Jesus WILL see me through every storm. He won't necessarily remove every storm before me... Sometimes it is in the midst of the storm that I have the faith opportunity to grow, learn, and even participate in the miraculous.

In the boat, out of the boat, on the sea, or on land.... Jesus is with me and you. He will never leave us, nor never forsake us. When we call to Him, when we place our trust in Him, even when we come to Him in our doubt, He is faithful to answer us....it's a nice night for a sail.