Jesus Modeled Serving by Ministering in Crisis
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me realize you are with me no matter what the crisis. Amen
“That day when evening came, he 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. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 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?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” Mark 4:35-40 NIV
REFLECT:
Jesus had just finished teaching and said to the disciples, “let us go to the other side of the lake,” which is something they had done many times. As they started across Galilee they ran into a major storm. The disciples became very fearful and cried out to Jesus who was sleeping in the stern of the boat.
This is so typical of what I do in my life when I have a crisis. Recently I was sitting on my sofa and started to get up when I realized my foot had gone to sleep. I lost my balance and heard a loud pop in my right foot and felt pain. At that point, I began to worry about it. I knew a broken right foot was going to limit any plans I had for traveling to Arizona to meet up with my brothers because I wouldn’t be able to drive. Thinking about how it was going to limit what I had planned kept me awake throughout the night. My wife and I prayed about it, but I still couldn’t release it to Jesus to take care of it.
It turns out it was broken, and the immediate care nurse practitioner said I needed to make an appointment with an orthopedist ASAP. Again, that night I worried about how I was going to find the right specialist. At the beginning of this event, I had made direct contact with my primary care doctor (a sports medicine specialist as well as a family practitioner) to apprise him of the situation. He took the time to review the x-rays and sent me an email that after viewing the film of my foot he felt he could guide me through the appropriate healing process. What a relief that was!
I realized Jesus was right there with me all the time, just as he was with the disciples. When he is in the boat with us, we do not have a thing to worry about in any crisis we face because he has our back.
APPLY:
When you need that support (and his support is always needed), look to your Heavenly Father. Ask him for help, for comfort, for wisdom. He is waiting for you to ask so he can supply it. James encourages you not to doubt (James 1:6-7). Put your confidence in the Lord. Ask for what you need. Step out in faith. Trust him to be your strength, wisdom, and righteousness. (Presidential Prayer Team Devotional, September 24, 2021
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, help me remember to look to you first, when I face a crisis. Amen
CONTINUED READING:
John 11:1-46, Mark 10:46-52
WORSHIP: