God's Call for your Family and Satan's Opposition - Mark 4

We serve a Big God and He is ever concerned with His Glory be spread across the globe. For this reason, I have confidence in saying that God has big plans for your life and that following Him will lead to some incredible outcomes for His glory.

Let’s talk about the disciples in Mark 4. God had commanded them to cross the Sea of Galilee and continue to the other side. During their travels, (more than likely no further than 49% of the way) they experienced strong winds, and desperately aggressive waves. Their circumstances were hopeless to say the least. Amidst the desperation, their “Savior” is asleep in the hinder part of the ship on a pillow.

The disciples question God’s care for them in these dire straits rather than following His example of rest. Perhaps they wouldn’t have laid to sleep, but they should have recognized that what seems life threatening to them in a moment is not life threatening to the one Who is Lord over creation. Rather than question God’s care they should have trusted and asked Him, in faith, to calm the storm or hold on until they made it across. Regardless, they should have known that if God called them to the other side, they were going to make it.

Was this a test of faith? I do not believe so. I don’t believe Jesus made this storm to teach His disciples a lesson. I believe Jesus knew this storm would happen and allowed it to be a potential teaching lesson for His disciples.

I believe this storm was a desperate effort from the adversary to try and stop God’s will from spreading into the land of the Gadarenes where a possessed man would find peace. Peace was to be offered to this man’s life and Jesus knew it. His plan is always to see lives changed, to see lives come to know Him as the giver of peace. The disciples should have seen God’s bigger picture and known something miraculous was going to take place.

If we are not careful, our lack of understanding God and His mission will cause us to question His care for us when opposition comes our way rather than trusting Him which can potentially lead to us missing God’s plan for our lives.

Think for a moment, Christian. Almighty God wants to use you to bring His glory and peace to someone who desperately needs it. There are going to be many who don’t like that. There will be many who strongly oppose that. As the winds as waves become increasingly vociferous, trust God rather than question His care for you. I assure you based in the Word of God; He loves you. This is not the time to question God. It’s the time to remind yourself of His Power and His mission and to ultimately move forward. It may even be time to remind yourself that a metaphorical nap may even be in order. Satan’s attempt was very scary to the disciples, but to God it’s not. If Jesus is in your boat, as you begin to set sail, determine right now that He loves you. Determine right now that no matter how rocky the waves become, you will not question the love you already know He has for you, but rather you will see as God sees. Determine that there is a person just beyond this journey needing God’s peace and that as a follower of Christ you will continue to be the vessel to bring the message of peace.

Considering your role as a Parent

Your child would benefit well from seeing you trust God in opposition. Your child will see, hear and in many ways feel the uneasiness and stress that accompanies worry and doubt. If you are serious about getting in the boat and following Christ, He will stretch your faith but the adversary will oppose it. Accept Christ’s stretching and trust Christ’s power over the adversary and let your child have some stories about the victory that is awaiting on the other side. Let your child see how Big God is.