Will you hear Christ, or the crisis?

Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Next, we read: “A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat” (v. 37 NIV). The disciples turned to Jesus and found Him sound asleep! They screamed, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (v. 38 NIV). Jesus woke up, commanded the storm to shut up, and then said to the disciples, “Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40 NIV). What a stunning rebuke! The sea was raging; the water was churning. Why did Jesus scold them? Simple – they didn’t take Him at His Word. He said they were going to the other side. He didn’t say, “We are going to the middle of the lake to drown.” Jesus had declared the outcome. But when the storms came, the disciples heard the roar of the winds and forgot His Word. Storms are coming your way too. Winds will howl, your boat will be tossed, and you will have a choice: Will you hear Christ or the crisis? Will you heed the promises of scripture or the noise of the storm? God told Joshua to “meditate in [scripture] day and night” (see Joshua 1:8). The word meditate means to “mutter” over what you’re reading. The image is one of a person reciting, rehearsing, and reconsidering God’s Word over and over. Paul says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). Begin with a prayer: “God, please speak to my heart today as I read.” Then read with an open heart until the message hits you.