Midweek Message: Calming the Storm

Mark 4:38        Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 

I’ve only had one anxiety attack in my life, and I truly hope I never experience another one. It happened years ago, shortly after my family and I moved into our new home in Knoxville. All at once, the reality hit me: we had taken on a thirty-year mortgage in a new city, in a new country, with no clear guarantees about what the future would hold.

I also carried a deep concern for my wife and two daughters. They had left so much behind to come to America with me—their family, friends, cousins, and familiar support systems. They needed me to be present with them, but I had become so absorbed in my work that I wasn’t giving them the care and reassurance they deserved. Instead of leaning into faith together, we found ourselves feeling afraid, unsettled, and even resentful. That strain continued for several weeks, until one day it finally overwhelmed me.

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. My heart was racing, my thoughts were spinning, and for a moment I honestly thought I might be dying. It only lasted about a minute, but it felt much longer. When it passed, I was pale, shaken, and covered in cold perspiration. It was a frightening experience—one I would not wish on anyone.

As I look back now, I can see that I was trying to carry too much on my own. I was relying on my own strength instead of turning to Jesus for the support, peace, and perspective I needed. Christ had brought us across the Atlantic for reasons that are still unfolding in each of our lives. The storms I felt inside were real, but they were not beyond His reach. Jesus was right there in the middle of them—ready, willing, and able to quiet my fears and calm the waves within me. It took time for me to see that, but I understand it more clearly now: Christ’s presence is real, and what matters most is that He is with us.

Perhaps you are going through a storm of your own right now. Maybe life feels heavy, your problems feel overwhelming, or anxiety is rising higher than you expected. If so, please know this: you are not alone. Christ is with you in the middle of your worries, your questions, and your cares. You can bring them to Him. He is able to calm the storm, and He invites you to trust Him one wave at a time.

Question for personal reflection

What fears, worries, or heavy burdens am I carrying right now? How might I invite Jesus into the middle of them today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we need Your steady and powerful presence in our lives. When we feel afraid, anxious, or overwhelmed, help us remember that we do not have to face our storms alone. Be our strength when we are weak, lift us up when we stumble, and guide us with Your peace. Calm the storms within us and around us, helping us trust You one step at a time. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Pastor John

If you enjoyed this devotion, you can read more in John's devotional e-books like "The Light of Love" which has forty-two devotions inspired by the Gospel of John. You can find the book at this link: 

"The Light of Love."

Liberty Devotion: Take Heart

Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (NIV)

 

This weekend will be both remarkable and historic, whatever our present circumstances may be. Celebrating 250 years of independence is a milestone few nations have experienced. Across the country, many people will gather with family and friends for traditional Fourth of July cookouts, complete with all the fixings—and, of course, watermelon. There will be parties, music, and the eager wait for dusk when fireworks light the sky. It promises to be a memorable occasion that many of us will cherish for years to come.

Many of us are grateful for our nation’s past, even as we recognize that the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has not yet been fully realized by all. The struggles for independence in 1776 and 1812 ended British control, yet the ongoing quest for equality led to the Civil War, the Suffragette movement, and the Civil Rights movement—issues that still shape American society today. We treasure freedom as a sacred and unalienable right, but we must continue working so that everyone in our nation can truly experience it.

Today’s verse from Psalm 31 offers comforting words for the future. Through faith in God, we find the strength and courage to face what lies ahead. If we place our hope in God’s guidance and remain faithful to God’s ways, we will learn how to share the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with all people. As we pursue these blessings, God will lead us not to keep them just for ourselves, but to offer and share them with the entire world.

May God bless you and your loved ones throughout this time of celebration.

Pastor John

Sabbath Psalms - Trouble Sleeping?

Psalm 13: 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? (NIV)

 Do you ever have trouble sleeping at night because you have too many thoughts rattling through your head? Do you go through days when your heart is hurt and heavy because someone wounded or disappointed you? Do you have moments when you want to pack everything all in because your problems are overwhelming and you can’t focus on any one of them? Me, too – welcome to the real world.

 Psalm 13 is one of the shortest songs in the whole Bible but it contains so much truth and relevance that I find myself returning to it repeatedly, especially when I have personal issues. The words appeal to me because of the boldness of the author – this is someone who knows trouble and needs to vent to God about it. It’s a hymn of complaint which we call a lament – the writer has been deeply hurt and wonders why God hasn’t done anything to remedy the situation or deal with the problem. There is an initial element of disappointment in his words as if the psalmist is saying to God “I have placed all of my faith in You, so why aren’t You sticking up for me? Why aren’t You helping me to overcome my foes and clear up this messy situation, God?”

 This is why I love the Book of Psalms – the candid complaints and painful protests are very human and clearly directed toward God. God’s inactivity is bewildering; His indifference is frustrating; His forgetfulness is almost infuriating. The psalmist feels let down and depressed, isolated and vulnerable. He cannot find peace, happiness, or hope. He struggles with his dilemma and he wrestles with God. Do you know that feeling? Me, too.

 In the end, the songwriter surrenders himself to God’s will. In a remarkable leap of faith, he decides to remain connected to the Lord. No matter what happens, he trusts God completely – the psalmist has vented his spleen and voiced his complaint. He now leaves it in God’s hands and aims instead to praise God for past blessings. This is not fair-weathered or a convenient faith; this is hard-to-endure and on-the-edge faith. This is what it truly means to believe in God.

Points to ponder

 What is presently troubling me? What issues am I experiencing? Have I complained to God? Am I willing to leave my problems in His hands? Do I still want to praise Him?

 Prayer: Lord God, You know us completely and fully understand the worries that weary us and the problems that presently burden us. Give us the will to hand them all over to You. Allow us the blessing of praising You in both good and bad times. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.