Thoughts for Difficult Times

Jesus Calms the Storm

Luke 8:22-25 – One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” NLT

I came across this material from Mark Cole the CEO of THE JOHN MAXWELL ENTERPRISE. John C. Maxwell the #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 30 million books, has been identified as the #1 leader in business by the American Management Association® and the world’s most influential leadership expert by Business Insider and Inc. magazine.

This short article reminded me troubles have been and will be with us in this sinful world. I cannot attest to the accuracy of the numbers, but I thought the point made is a good one. Keeping things is prospective is important to our outlook at a time like this. Most of all, I need to keep my faith in the one who controls the universe and cares about me.

“Imagine you were born in 1900. When you turn 14, the First World War begins and ends when you turn 18. 22 million people lost their lives in that war. Later that year, the Spanish flu pandemic appears that lasts until you turn 20. 50 million people lost their lives in that pandemic. Yes, 50 million.

When you turn 29, the Great Depression begins. Unemployment rises to 25% and world production falls by 27%. That takes until you are 33 years old. Countries are almost collapsing with the economy.

When you turn 39, World War II begins. By the time you turn 45, 75 million people are losing their lives in that war. When you turn 50, the Korean War begins. Another 5 million people die.

When you turn 55, the Vietnam War begins, which lasts 20 years. 4 million people died in that war. When you turn 62, the Cuban Missile Crisis begins, a turning point in the Cold War. Life as we know it could have ended then.

When you turn 75, the Cold War is finally over. Think about all the people who were born in 1900. How did they manage to get through all that stuff?

And now think when you were a child in 1985 and you didn’t understand how your 85-year-old grandfather doesn’t understand how hard school is for you or how bad a classmate is with you … And yet those people went through so much … Let’s try to keep a correct perspective on the situation. Let’s all be better, love our neighbor and help each other. ” Mark Cole (CEO John Maxwell Enterprises)

Ellen White, Last Day Events p.17 – Many will look away from present duties, present comfort and blessings, and be borrowing trouble in regard to the future crisis. This will be making a time of trouble beforehand, and we will receive no grace for any such anticipated troubles.

Ellen White, Steps to Christ, pp .96, 97 – If we take counsel with our doubts and fears or try to solve everything that we cannot see clearly before we have faith, perplexities will only increase and deepen. But if we come to God, feeling helpless and dependent, as we really are, and in humble, trusting faith make known our wants to Him whose knowledge is infinite, who sees everything in creation and who governs everything by His will and word, He can and will attend to our cry and will let light shine into our hearts. Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.

May your God of peace and assurance be very close to you.