Bring on the Rain: Walking on the Stormy Seas

Walking on the Stormy Seas

Written by Miss Charlene

I do my best thinking at night time as I lay in bed before I sleep. I tell myself to remember in the morning, but then I never do. Sometimes I'll just pull myself out of bed and write it down!

Tonight, I was thinking about how we could explain joy. Happiness is circumstantial and it depends on what we are facing, whether it be bad or good. Joy is a fruit of the spirit and it is a gift from God as we grow in our walk with him. Joy is always abiding, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what we are facing.

As Christians, we live above the circumstances. We're not really IN it, like a lost person without God would be. Life is full of waves, tidal waves, tsunamis, storms, unpredictability, and people get tossed about and go up and down along with life's motions. As successful Christians, we sail right through it. The perfect illustration is when Jesus walked on water. There was a storm, but Jesus wasn't in it, he wasn't tossed with it, or drowning. Jesus just sailed over it.

Jesus showed Peter, a mortal, imperfect man how to walk on water. It was possible by faith and by keeping our eyes on Jesus. We have that opportunity to walk on water over the stormy seas of our lives just like Peter did.

What a gift!

12 Comments:

Judy said...
March 25, 2009 at 4:19 AM
Thank God He helps us overcome the storms and have joy. You continue to encourage me by your thoughts.

Beth in NC said...
March 25, 2009 at 4:30 AM
That is beautiful Charlene. I never thought about it like that, but you're right -- while keeping our eyes on Jesus we can do all things.

Bless you today!
Beth

Krystal said...
March 25, 2009 at 4:51 AM
I often do a lot of thinking at night, too.

I heard a teaching a long time ago that said that the word happiness was derived from the word happenstance. And happenstance deals with circumstances on the outside, not so much permanent peace on the inside.

By the way, I love that picture. Most people would shudder at that, but I would love to sit on the porch of my house and watch weather like that. I enjoy the sound of rain so much! ;)

Pilar said...
March 25, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Funny you wrote about this. Today i was talking to a lady that I was able to lead to the Lord on sunday. Her son died several years ago and she has been in valium ever since taking at least one every day. She told me she hasn't needed it since sunday. The circunstances are the same. Her son is still dead and she is still sad. but now she has her Savior to hold her hand. She found peace in the midst of her storm.

LisaShaw said...
March 25, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Precious Charlene,

I've missed stopping by and am glad to see that you are doing well in Jesus Name! I've had you and your precious sons on my heart.

I love your message! I learned long ago not to focus on HAPPINESS because it can often be just for a time, a moment but JOY, true JOY is something we can experience even in the midst of serious trials and tribulations.

When we faced one of the most difficult things I've had to deal with in 2005, I could still lift my hands and praise the Lord. I could still genuinely smile and I could still care for my family and others. Why? Because the joy of the LORD is truly my strength. JOY for me is not an emotion or a feeling is much deeper than that -- it's a state in which I am in the LORD. Sort of like breathing!

Not to suggest there are not times when discouragement can come but JOY pushes it out quickly.

I love you dear.

Kari Dana said...
March 25, 2009 at 5:55 PM
I love thinking about it this way. I often think about things I went through before I was a Christian and wonder how I got through them.

What's so cool is that I can see in specific instances how He was there and protected me, even though I didn't know He was by my side.

:)

Pilar said...
March 26, 2009 at 9:42 AM
Charlene, the name of the church you mention doesn't sound familiar. Which state is this in? While on deputation we were everywhere :)

Miss Rachel said...
March 26, 2009 at 10:53 AM
What an encouraging post! I had never thought of it like that before. Amazing.

I find joy in the fact that I can just 'saiil' over life's problems like Christ did because I keep my eyes on Him. Peter walked on the water because, like you said, he kept his eyes on Jesus, and not on life's storms and tidal waves. Wonderful message!

Love,
Rachel

Pilar said...
March 26, 2009 at 12:10 PM
hehe, it must be my twin :).We lived in AL so the farest west we went was IL :).

Together We Save said...
March 26, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Beautiful toughts.

Anonymous said...
March 26, 2009 at 6:18 PM
That's right! I recently discovered the same thing a few months ago, I was too busy focusing on finding things that made me happy when I forgot to rely on the Lord for joy!

Oh here's a little burst of happiness for you, I gave you an award for being fabulous! Come check it out on my blog :)

<3 Sissy

Joyeful said...
March 26, 2009 at 8:28 PM
It is wonderful to meet you. I absolutely love your blog and your heart for Jesus! They're both beautiful! God has shown me the same thing about happiness being such a temporal emotion, but the joy of the Lord is something I can have no matter what my circumstances or even my emotions tell me! I can't wait to read more... :D