You know, planning for and going on a mission trip can be a lot like sitting in a boat that’s about to be overtaken by the waves. Many of us have been dealing with waves … before we've even gone on the trip!
We have this picture (shown above) hanging on the wall of our living room. It depicts the moment in history when Jesus calmed a violent storm with just three words. (Mark 4:36-40 & Matthew 8:23-26)
That day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Sometimes, storms are upon us without any warning at all and they occur in a variety of ways. Our mission team is weathering a "storm" of sorts. Some team members are dealing with physical ailments. Some are struggling with fear of the unknown, confidence and self-worth while others have clouded perceptions and foggy views. We're just people and we can get stuck in storms and in the process we can be lacking in faith.
One particular teammate has now had to make the difficult decision of not being able to go to Honduras with us due to the physical ailment she has been struggling with this year. It is heart-breaking for her and for the team and we ask that you will keep her in your prayers.
It's difficult to understand why each of us has the storms that we do, to "have faith" when we endure hardship and struggle with various notions ... but I am reminded of a Bible verse that is often spoken and has been part of the sermon(s) at church ...
... Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3)
... consider it all joy ... consider it all joy ... consider it all joy ...
Oooo ... sometimes that is just too hard, isn't it?
But what was it that Jesus said?? He asked, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Jesus was on the boat with them when the storm hit. He was there when the waves came toppling over the boat and threatened to overtake it. The disciples were frantic and overcome by fear!
What was Jesus doing?
He was sleeping ...
(you know those people who get on a plane and fall asleep just as the plane is taking off? I am certainly not one of those people - I can't sleep AT ALL on a plane. I just can't relax enough to even contemplate sleep. Those people who begin dozing while we're still on the runway, ... they're relaxed. They have no reason to fear!)
“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”
... Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3)
No matter the storm that each of us is going through, no matter how choppy the waters our boat is traveling on ... Jesus is with us ... And through it all, ...
... while our faith is growing and endurance is building ...
‘Peace! Be still!’
... may we Be Still and at Peace ...
Hey teammate ~ a single battle lost, but not the war ... this song's for you!!
(Click on the arrow)
One particular teammate has now had to make the difficult decision of not being able to go to Honduras with us due to the physical ailment she has been struggling with this year. It is heart-breaking for her and for the team and we ask that you will keep her in your prayers.
It's difficult to understand why each of us has the storms that we do, to "have faith" when we endure hardship and struggle with various notions ... but I am reminded of a Bible verse that is often spoken and has been part of the sermon(s) at church ...
Oooo ... sometimes that is just too hard, isn't it?
But what was it that Jesus said?? He asked, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Jesus was on the boat with them when the storm hit. He was there when the waves came toppling over the boat and threatened to overtake it. The disciples were frantic and overcome by fear!
He was sleeping ...
... while our faith is growing and endurance is building ...
‘Peace! Be still!’
... may we Be Still and at Peace ...
Hey teammate ~ a single battle lost, but not the war ... this song's for you!!
(Click on the arrow)
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