Luke 8:26
And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
Jesus said to His disciples, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. This seemed like a harmless command that Jesus commanded. At the command of Jesus, we see the disciples launched forth. However, what seemed to be an easy trip to get to the other side of the lake so they could minister to the people in the country of the Gadarenes turned into a harrowing time. A storm rose up while they were in the middle of the lake, a storm so great that the wind caused the water to fill the boat they were in. The Scriptures say there was so much water that their lives were in jeopardy. As they were trying to stay alive, Jesus was asleep in the boat. The disciples came to Jesus to awaken Him, for they were about to die. As they woke Jesus up, they cried, Master, master, we perish. When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind, and the sea became calm. After the storm, they arrived in the country of the Gadarenes.
Between the go and the arrived, there was a storm that seemed like it would destroy them. Many like to follow the initial command of the Saviour to “go,” but many lose faith when the storm comes. You cannot get to the other side to see Jesus perform miracles through your life without going through the storm. However, you will find that God’s power is as powerful in the storm as it is in the calm of life. Never let the storm bring you to despair. You must keep the faith that the God who told you to go will get you to where He tells you to go no matter what storm you may face in between. Let me point out a couple of lessons to learn.
First, you will only get to the other side if you go. You can sit on this side of the spiritual lake where it seems to be safe, but you will never see the miracles God has in store for your life. Many never see the miracles of God in their lives because they sit in what seems to be safe, but they are missing the miracles that faith has for them if they would go.
Second, you must go forward if you are to get to the other side of your spiritual lake. The Scriptures say the disciples launched forth. There are no miracles by going backward or laterally. You must continually go forward if you want God to show His power in your life. You may hit a storm on the way, but going forward in the storm is always the safest direction to get you through the storm.
Third, there will be times when you must push yourself to go forward. The word launched means they pushed forward to get to the other side. There are days when you have to push yourself to go forward spiritually. Every day will not be a calm day. There are days when the only way you can make it is to push yourself, but you will never regret pushing forward when you see God do the miracle in your life.
Fourth, it often gets worse before it gets better. The disciples launched forth, but they met a storm on the way. Many people have gone forward by faith but quit when the storm came. You cannot live life without storms. Storms are a part of life, but you must not let the storms cause you to lose faith and return to where you think it is safe.
My friend, the greatest miracles are often found in the storms. If God says go, it does not matter what storm you face, you will get to the other side, but on the way, you will see Him perform the miraculous through your life.
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