Mark 4:35-37, Lean Into The Wind

I always tell people that if someone tells them, “Come to Jesus and everything will go smooth in your life”……well, I tell them to RUN from that person very fast. The truth is…… there will still be issues to deal with, storms in your life, problems and temptations. The DIFFERENCE is, with Jesus, you have an advocate, a helper in the Holy Spirit, to overcome these storms!

Mark 4:35-37 (TNIV)
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.

I want to point out something here, a little context that makes this Scripture an even stronger picture of the realities of life. Jesus and the disciples were setting out on the boat at night because generally, the waters were calmer at night and storms were rare. But here we see them setting out over the water and even when expecting relatively calm waters….”A furious squall came up”.

Isn’t that often, just how it is? We think that things are going well and <<BAM>> a storm comes up to upset things! Problems, temptations and struggles occur in our everyday life. Often when we least expect them. Following Jesus is not just smooth sailing and triumphant living! We must be prepared for the storms that we know will come….often when we least expect them! We must never surrender to the stress, but, we must always be prepared to roll with the punches by solving our problems and recovering from setbacks.

We have a helper in Jesus; the Holy Spirit is in our lives to guide us. We can pray, trust and move ahead where many would feel defeated. It is interesting that the words translated as “helper” is “parakletos” [par-ak-lay-tos]. This word means helper, advocate, assistant, comforter or could be seen simply as a good “friend”.

John 14:15-17 (The Message Version, Jesus is speaking)
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

John 14:25-27 (The Message Version, Jesus is speaking)
“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left–feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

When a storm in your life approaches, pray, trust, praise God and above all………. lean into the wind.