Summary: Trusting is a very hard thing to do. They had a relationship TO Christ, but not WITH Him. Sometimes the storm has to be really bad - you have to travel into the epicenter of the fear to realize you have a relationship TO him, but not WITH HIM….because relationships take TRUST. Their fear was the result of the acknowledging the end of their ability. They were skilled at navigating the seas - they had no doubt been in rough waters many times. But as the wind and waves crashed round about them, there was a collective realization: This is beyond us. Have you been in a situation “beyond you”? They came to the realization - He’s in the boat. We have a relationship TO him, but not with him. Every chance to build trust is an opportunity Trust: choosing to make something important to you vulnerable to the actions of someone else. Distrust: what I have shared with you that is important to me is not safe with you. The disciples in the boat chose to come to Jesus - we know we are experts at sea…we are men who drunk, cuss, fart, and smoke… but we are so vulnerable, we feel like we’re going to die. Jesus rebuked and rescued. He’s not ok with you not trusting Him. He’s always made a way. Might not have looked like you wanted it to look, but I’ve always rescued you. As you make yourself vulnerative - He will make it a safe place to speak with him. Safe doesn’t make your feelings valid excuses. 2 Cor. 1:8-11 We don’t want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he’ll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. We started to trust God. Discovered in the moment of trust Julie was going to lose the very thing she was going to hold on to if she tried to. To trust means to LET GO. You may lose the thing you’re desperately trying to hold on to. Maya Angelo “I don’t trust people who don’t love themselves, but say I love you.” She quotes an African proverb when she says that “Beware the naked man offering you a shirt.” If you find yourself lacking in trust is to examine yourself. We cannot ask people to give to us something we do not believe we are worthy of receiving. There are people who will try to tell you how to get to your destiny. If those disciples would have not just acknowledge that not only was Jesus present in the boat, but He already said they were going to do ALL He did and greater. We are waiting for Jesus to step in to do it. But I don’t trust people who don’t love themselves, but say I love you. The naked man offering you a shirt. If you want trust, trust God. Every opportunity to build trust is an opportunity to betray. 2 Cor. 1:8 As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead! I don’t know your situation, but it’s an opportunity not for betrayal because God cannot betray you...it’s an opportunity for healing.
