DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Even the Wind Obeys Him
by David Thompson
Many years ago, I was in a faith-healing service. Now right away many will think "Yah, right," but stay with me and I will hope to make a point that I think Jesus wants made. I was a visitor in a church in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and it was to the best of my recollection 1966. I was a twelve-year-old non-Christian at the time. The service was "normal" through the songs and the sermon, but then came a portion of the service when anyone with a physical, mental or spiritual need was asked to come forward. About four people responded that morning and the one I will focus on was a little girl. Her mom and dad came up to the front with her. She was on crutches. The pastor went to each person and prayed with them. He came to the little girl last. He had the girl sit and remove the shoe from her right foot. The pastor explained that she had no heel on the bare foot. If I remembered right, he held the girl's foot up so all could see the disability. He had everyone pray and he prayed that the Lord would see fit to heal her. He put his hand on the heal and prayed for what seemed to me a long time. At last the pastor said with much excitement that something was happening. By the end of the prayers, he stated that the girl's heal had grown out into his hand and that she was healed. Again he held up the foot and sure enough the heal looked normal. It goes without saying that this twelve-year-old was mighty impressed, especially since the pastor was my uncle and in my young opinion would never tell a lie.
In the first half of our passage for today there was a storm and there were Jesus' disciples in a boat with Jesus (who was sleeping). Many of the disciples were fishermen and were familiar with the storms on this body of water. However, this one was different. It was intense. So much so that the disciples woke Jesus and warned Him that all were going to drown. Jesus stood up and spoke to the wind and waves and immediately everything became calm... "Yah, right." Who could do that? Was this some kind of coincidence? I think not!
Jesus' line, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (v. 26), says it all. When bad things happen, instead of getting all wound up and depressed, remember who is in control. He promises that "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:8). Pray and have faith and you can and will move mountains.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, we are our own worst enemies with our human doubt and lack of faith. Help us to see you as I saw my uncle as an amazing being capable of doing miraculous things. As Mark 9:24 reminds us, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." That is a prayer we all could likely utter at various times in our lives. We praise you for your loving presence in our lives. Amen and Amen
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