Sometimes it seems as if the fast pace of today's society has transformed us into overstimulated, undernourished, sleep-deprived, impatient, impolite, self-absorbed alarmists who think nothing of making hasty, unfounded, provocative statements in order to further our own short-sighted agendas.
At any given moment in time there are controversies and dramas swirling all around us, beckoning us to either fan the flames, put on our Superman capes to run to the rescue, pull up a chair and enjoy the show, or set our face toward the Lord for guidance and direction.
When it comes to tempestuous situations, didn't we learn anything from Peter's example? When the Lord calls us to step out into the deep waters of faith, we are not to turn our attention to the winds and waves roaring around us. Yet, we so easily (perhaps even eagerly) take our eyes off Jesus because we reason that the raging waters have created an emergency situation which absolutely must be addressed immediately.
No matter what is going on in the world around us, whenever we take our focus off of the Lord and focus instead on our circumstances, we begin to sink. Jesus was fully aware that the waters were rough when he called Peter to step out into them. Their condition was mere background information, for they had no direct impact on Peter's ability to get to Jesus. Yet Peter's fearful response to them moved them from a 411 point of information status to a 911 emergency call.
We saw the same thing when the disciples were on a boat with Jesus and a storm began to rage. The disciples placed a 911 call to Jesus who was sleeping in the bottom of the boat. The status of the storm was not the least bit alarming to Jesus. He already had the 411 regarding the weather report, which is why He simply responded by saying, "Peace be still," a command as applicable to the disciples as it was to the sea.
How did we get 911 and 411 so mixed up? When did the lines become so blurry that we have people dialing 911 because of an "emergency" situation involving their order at a fast-food restaurant?
People are hungry, hurting and dying all over, and we are either too engrossed in our own agendas and pity parties, or we are totally immersed in the reality TV show that sometimes masquerades as American politics to properly respond. There is nothing happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or at our own address that prevents us from ministering at a homeless shelter, helping someone find a job, counseling an at-risk teen, or carrying out any of the tasks God has called and equipped us to do.
It's also important that we learn the difference between what is an emergency, urgent, or important with regard to what God calls us to do. Too often we zealously run off to do what God has called us to do even if God has only told us the "what" regarding our assignment and has not yet revealed the "when" or even the "how."
We cannot make the necessary distinctions regarding the timing and details of our assignments if we simply lean on our own understanding once we hear an initial word from God. There is always time to pray and seek God's guidance, even if all we have time to say is, "Lord help!"
When we ask God to help us understand our circumstances and assignments, we might find that what constitutes an emergency in our eyes is a mere point of information to God. Keeping God at the forefront of our decisions and reactions also gives us the supernatural courage and power required to carry out the more difficult assignments, which are accomplished "not by power nor by might, but by my Spirit, says the Lord."
Fear not. God is still on the throne and is fully capable of carrying out His kingdom agenda with us or in spite of us!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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