Enjoy the Bread

He had lost his grip!

The wave was crashing down around them, and the rope that James had been clutching for dear life had slipped through his fingers. The water rushed over the opposite side of the boat, dragging him along with it. He blindly groped for anything to cling to that would keep him from washing over the side of the boat. His left shoulder slammed into edge of the boat, and reacting like only a fisherman could, he threw his arms around the edge, and attempted to anchor his feet against the dock. The water flowed around him, and he slumped to the ground in relief.

Without loosening his death grip, he looked around the deck. One, Two... He swung his head to look behind him. There's Peter and John. Looks like everyone's safe. 

Peter waved at him. "Come on!"

James reluctantly let go and ran across the deck to meet Peter.

"Jesus is sleeping in the stern."

His eyebrows shot straight up. How was Jesus sleeping in this? Together they ran over to Jesus. Peter gripped him by the shoulders and shook him, clearly in a panic. He yelled over the roaring wind, "Save us, Lord. We are all going to die!"

James spotted another wave building to crescendo. If that beast hit them, they'd capsize for sure.

Jesus opened his eyes and sat up slowly. He looked around, seeing the dark, angry sky, the rain pelting them on all sides. The wind howled it's battle cry, and the wave loomed over them. It was too late.

Peter persisted one last time, "Save us, Lord, or we will all die!"

Jesus shook his head. "Why are you afraid, ye of little faith?" Then Jesus stood up, and walked to the edge of the boat. James saw the calm way he stood there, even though the wave was about to cash upon them. Then with all the authority of Heaven, He spoke.

"Wind, be quite. Waves, be still."

James blinked his eyes. Then he rubbed his eyes and looked again. Just like that everything calmed. The sun was shinning against a bright, blue sky. The waters were completely still. He rushed to the edge. The water looked like glass. It didn't even so much as lap against the side of the boat. The wind blew on his face, drying him, caressing him.

Slowly James turned to face Jesus. Who is this?

Based on Matthew 8:23-27

Okay, so Jesus and His disciples are on a boat, and this storm comes up out of nowhere.

Why?

When these passages are read and taught, we immediately go to how we are supposed to trust Him in the storms of our lives.

There's more.

Everything that happens to, around, and for Jesus happens for a reason. Examples: to showcase His glory, to declare His loving provision, and to kick the devil square in the teeth.

The storm is raging around them, and their first response ins't to act like big, tough men. A bunch of them were fishermen for crying out loud! No, they run to Jesus. They wake Him up, asking for Him to do something, to save them! Similar to how a child runs to their father, begging for help.

Then when Jesus calms the winds and the sea, they are surprised. They say, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey him?"

They went to Him for help, then they were surprised when they got it.

Remember Zachariah, John the Baptist's father? He did the same thing. He had been earnestly praying for a son. Then one day Gabriel show's up and goes,"You're going to be a daddy." Zachariah's response, "What are you talking about? Impossible."

"What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:11-13

"Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

He doesn't say all that for show. I can just picture God throwing up His hands and saying, "They just won't believe that I want to give them the bread." Do we run to God and pray to Him because we trust our Father? Or do we run to Him and pray to Him because we are supposed to do that?

God, our Heavenly Father, wants to bless us. He really does. He wants to save us from the storms, give us miracle children, and really, really good bread. He wants to do all that because we are His children. Don't ever doubt that. Don't be surprised when He blesses and saves you. Take it. Enjoy it.

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