"Ships don't sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets IN them! Don't let what's happening around you get inside you and weight you down." I saw this on social media a while back and loved it. Immediately, I thought of the 2020 circumstances getting so many people down. I have never seen so many people feeling down and discouraged. I have said many times this year that I am thankful that I do this blog so that I have to be in God's Word daily. While some days are still a struggle, that is what has given me strength and encouragement during this time.
Jesus refers to the storms of life in Matthew 8: 23-27. "Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"
Jesus is with us in the ‘storms’ of life! Isaiah 43: 2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."
Sometimes our struggles happen just because we live in a fallen, dark world. Everyone has something. All lives have or will be touched by pain, sickness and death. We also live in the midst of a spiritual battle. That is why we must not let the circumstances of the world transform our minds! Romans 12: 2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
When things get tough let's determine if we are thinking about the right things. Are we focusing on the problem or the Problem Solver? Philippians 4: 8, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." This will transform our minds. In Romans 12: 2 we are told, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Remember, God's Word is true. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." God's Word is the Truth and it will set us free. Even though life will be hard, we have promises to hold onto. These promises set us free the fear of this world. God's Word will never fail! Luke 1: 37, "For no word from God will ever fail." These are wonderful thoughts! They are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy!
God will always be with us. There is no where we can go and get away from Him. No matter how dark our world gets. Psalm 139: 7-12, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, 'Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,' even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." God is our life raft no matter what the water is like around us!
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