October 9
Luke 9:7-9; Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15; Mark 6:45-52; Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21; Mark 6:53-56; Matthew 14:34-36
The other day I spoke with a patient of mine whom I had not seen for a number of years. She appeared deflated and depressed. On speaking to her she told me that she lost her daughter to an overdose a few years ago. Upon finding her, her husband attempted CPR unsuccessfully until she was pronounced dead. She stated since then she had sort of lost her way. I asked her about her faith, to which she told me that she had faith in the past, went to a Baptist church, but since the death of her daughter this faith was lost. After expressing my sorrow about these events, I reminded her that though we might not have answers for life's most difficult situations, that Jesus very much loved her. I reminded her, that though she felt distant from Him, that He was very much near her, in fact, He never left her side. I reminded her about salvation, and that she was still God's daughter, and Christ's bride, she simply has forgotten this in the midst of her circumstances. We then prayed together.
Coming from a high point after Jesus just fed the five thousand, the disciples in the midst of the sea, encounter difficulty. We pick up the story in Mark 6:48-50, "Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”" They knew who Jesus was and what He could do, but in the midst of their storm, they couldn't see Him. Matthew 14 gives even more detail of this event, as we read in 14:29-30, as Peter was walking on the water towards Jesus in faith, "So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”" With his eyes on Jesus, in faith he could literally walk on water. When his eyes focused on the storm and went off Jesus he began to sink.
To minimize life's difficulties is cruel. To tell someone that you know what they are going through when you have never experienced similar events is dishonest. But life is not about a competition as to whose life circumstances are most difficult. Life is about getting our eyes onto Jesus no matter what has happened. Jesus always was and always will be the answer. He is the answer to the deepest depression and lost hope. He will never leave us nor forsake us, and nothing can separate us from Him. It is up to us to arise each new day and brace ourselves to the firm foundation which is Jesus Christ our Rock. He is our living hope when hope seems to have evaporated. Thank you, Jesus!
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: