Just As He is

+JMJ

The Miracles of the Calming of the Storm and Jesus Walking on Water

I moved this past week. I hate moving… Truly… I always feel like I am prepared, only to find out I am nowhere near as prepared as I need to be or thought I was.

It was stressful. Stress that was only multiplied by the time crunch of having to be out by a certain date, and an impending blizzard headed our way.

I was kind of a mess.

I was so certain we wouldn’t be able to get everything done. We only had 4 days, bad weather, and A LOT to do.

What would we do if we couldn’t get out of the apartment on time? What if we couldn’t get through the snow storm? What if we got stranded? What if someone got hurt? I’m pretty sure I had a headache for the entire move.

I will be honest I didn’t make as much time to sit quietly with Jesus like I normally do. I was instead running around in the whirling storm my life has been for the past few days.

On that day, as evening drew on, He said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Him with them in the boat just as He was. And other boats were with Him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Mark 4:35-41

You probably think I am going to talk about how Jesus calmed the “storm” I was going through. But that wasn’t where my focus fell this time.

Truth be told the Lord was going to point out my lack of faith, trust, and surrender to Him.

The words “just as He was” caught my attention.

What did that mean? I sat with the words and was left with nothing but confusion and frustration.

They haunted me the whole week.

Just as He was? Why would those words be in the Bible? Why were they relevant to the story? What was Jesus trying to say to me?

“Just as He was,” sounds so.….

Ordinary……

And I know Jesus is anything but ordinary. He is truly Magnificent. This only increased my confusion and frustration.

It wasn’t until later in the week, while contemplating another Miracle, from Matthew, that things began to fall into place:

Then He made the disciples get into the boat and precede Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. After doing so, He went up on the mountain to pray. When it was evening He was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, He came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I: do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did Him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33

As I thought about Him walking on the water, it hit me. He was unhindered, unencumbered, unobstructed, simple….

He is completely free.

Just as He was… was free.

When I think of myself I could see how weighed down I was during the whole move. I am so hindered by worry, encumbered by anxiety, and obstructed by doubt. I was making things so complicated.

When Jesus says, “Come.” I perceived the words, “Come to me.” I failed to come to Him. I failed to recognize Him in the dark. I sank just like Peter did due to my doubt. My lack of faith, trust, and surrender caused me a great deal of grief.

The words from both passages stood out so vividly now.

Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?

Mark 4:40

O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?

Matthew 14:31

The move went without a hitch really, only burning these words further into my mind and heart. Why did I doubt? Have I no faith at all?

How often I believe my circumstances are never going to work out, and Jesus always stretches out His hand to catch me.

To save me from the storm that is my complicated myself.

Just the way I am is not perfect, but Jesus shows up anyway, just the way He is, which is absolutely perfect.

Thrive in Jesus, my friends!