Memories

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

 

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)

 

 

 

 

I visited my parents for a few days last week. We had a real good time together. We did some eating and some shopping and a little more eating and a little more shopping and watched a couple of movies and ate a little bit more.

 

Do you notice a theme here? Yeah. Me, too. (She said, with a smile on her face!)

 

Anyway, one morning while we were sitting at the table eating breakfast, we started talking about the different residences they, as a couple, and later us, as a family, had lived in since their marriage.

 

We talked about the early apartments and the duplex and the garage apartment with a steep staircase and then a complete house to rent and after that a nicer house to rent. And finally a house to own. And then the house they’ve now lived in for over three decades.

 

We talked about when they only had a washer but no dryer and two small active girls. And what happened to a particular parakeet and a few tiny turtles that lived on our tiny screened porch. But we won’t talk about that here.

 

We remembered rare snowfalls and frozen little hands. And getting an electrical shock when you touched the mixer and another person at the same time – because some residential electrical systems weren’t grounded back then.

 

Later, when we had finished reminiscing, my dad said, “Thank you.” We said, “For what?”

 

And he said, “I remembered things today that I didn’t know I remembered. I’m so glad it’s all still there. It just took somebody jogging my memory.”

 

I have that same problem sometimes. Don’t you?

 

And that’s the same problem the disciples experienced in today’s passage.

 

Just think about what those guys had already witnessed in their brief journey with Jesus.

 

They’d seen him heal all kinds of diseases. We know he healed a paralyzed servant boy without even seeing him. And we know he healed a man with leprosy. And we know he healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever that had her bedridden.

 

And we know there were a lot more healings. He healed every disease and sickness that was brought to him. People in severe pain, the demon-possessed, those suffering with seizures, and the paralyzed.

 

He healed them ALL. No sweat.

 

And the disciples were eyewitnesses to all of this.

 

And yet they’re now in a situation where they believe they’re all going to die.

 

And some of these guys are professional fishermen. They’ve been in horrible storms before.

 

But there’s someone else with them on this voyage. It’s the same person they watched heal the paralyzed servant and the people in severe pain. And the lepers. And the demon-possessed.

 

I just don’t think those memories were at the forefront of the disciples’ minds at this particular point in their trip.

 

I have a feeling the only thing they were thinking about was trimming sails and bailing water and watching their lives flash before their eyes.

 

The KNEW they were dead in the water.

 

And then they look over and see Jesus. Sleeping. Like a baby.

 

Because Jesus apparently knew something they didn’t.

 

He KNEW that the same person who can heal a paralyzed body can just as easily calm a storm.

 

Of any kind.

 

So whatever storm you’re in today, start asking yourself questions about your past experiences. Jog your memory and remind yourself about where you’ve come from, what circumstances you’ve been through, and WHO got you through every storm in your life.

 

Because that same person is still with you today – in your current storm. And He still has the same power – the power that’s strong enough to raise the dead. And I doubt you need power any stronger than that.

 

So keep all those memories fresh. Keep rehearsing your testimonies. And the testimonies of other people – because God doesn’t love them any more than He loves you. What He did for them, He can do for you.

 

And that is what will keep your faith alive and well.

 

In any storm.