Troubled Waters?

Wow! I saw this post today and just wanted to share it: I asked God...'Why are you taking me through troubled waters?'...He replied, 'Because your enemies can't swim.' (Source) Think on that one a bit and it might just blow your mind. We are going through troubled waters - not on accident - but on purpose. Not to be consumed by our enemies - to drown them! We might think the 'high waters' and 'rough seas' are put there to toss us about and capsize us, swallowing us up in the depth of their expanse, but God has a different purpose for those rough waters. 

Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”  Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?” (Mark 4:35-40) 

The more we focus on the roughness or 'tossing' of the waters around us, the more we will fear what has absolutely no power over us. That might be a hard one to swallow at first, but it is truth nonetheless. We see the waters tossing us all about - we don't see God's absolute control, do we? We see things through natural eyes - God sees them from his all-seeing, all-knowing eyes. What are the weapons that conquers our enemy? I think it is praise! Even in the darkness!

Praise that is genuine will not allow us to see the tossing waves for long. They are still there, but as we begin to praise him and lift his name above the roar of the rough waters, we will soon the raging sea calmed. Why? We just took our focus off of the waves and put is squarely upon Jesus. When our focus is on Jesus, the waves matter not. In fact, they submit to his presence. Do you know what calmed those seas that day so long ago - God's presence! Jesus was in the boat. The waves stood no chance because HE was there!

Bring God into the midst of the waves and see what he will do for you today. The giants lurking beneath the surface of those waves are nothing compared to his presence - for where his presence is there is his power. We will survive the rough seas - our enemies will not. I know my praises start kind of weak in those moments when the waves are tossing me to and fro, but the longer I praise the stronger that praise becomes. Do you know what? The more I praise him, the stronger I become. Why? His presence takes the fear away and it bolsters my faith.

The next time you find yourself in the midst of the tossing waves, don't cower to the waves. Speak to them - through the words of praise that well up within and begin to build your faith. What did Jesus do? He spoke to the waves. Why not take the lead from him? Speak to those waves - tell them who is in control - show them who is in control. Then remind them those seas are about to consume your enemy, not you! Just sayin!