Surviving Deep Waters and Dark Nights
Thursday, December 18th, 2008Several years ago Hollywood released a film called the Perfect Storm. It was high impact drama, with a lot of deep waters and dark nights. The interesting thing about this blockbuster was that Hollywood spent an enormous amount of money on a film with no survivors. How sad! I imagine some of you feel like you are going through your own deep waters and dark nights right now. Many more of you feel like your entire life has been one deep water and dark night experience, and you wonder if you will survive. I want to encourage you today. You can survive your deep waters and dark nights by remembering a few lessons that God is teaching me. When I am going through my deep waters and dark nights I have to remember:
1. When I can’t see Jesus, Jesus sees me. There are times when our deep waters and dark nights (sickness, financial reversals, rejection, loneliness, etc) prevent us from seeing Jesus. However, just because our vision is obscured, doesn’t mean that his vision is obscured by our circumstances. He sees your struggle, exhaustion, and straining in the middle of the lake. His vision is not hindered by the distance and the darkness; He has his eye on you. Isn’t that good news? Just because you can’t see him, doesn’t mean he can’t see you. He sees and he cares.
2. When I can’t get to Jesus, Jesus comes to me. There are times when our deep waters and dark nights prevent us from getting to Jesus. We try to get to him in prayer, fasting, and even praise and worship, but it seems like heaven is silent. However, we have the full assurance that when we cannot get to him because of the storm of doubt and waves of fear, he comes to us. He comes because he promises that he will (Deuteronomy 31:8). Also, he comes walking on the very thing that is causing the fear and turmoil in our lives. Now, sometimes he comes to us, not to deliver us, but simply to show us that he is God, that he is still in control and that he will not let the deep waters and dark nights overwhelm us. In these moments, more than anything, he wants us to trust him, even when we can’t trace him.
3. When I can’t speak to Jesus, Jesus speaks to me. When my fear muffles our words and we don’t know what to say, Jesus speaks powerful words to his people. What does he say? He says:
Take courage
It is I
Don’t be afraid
Repeat those last word to yourself and let them wash over your heart right now. So, when you are experiencing your own deep waters and dark nights, remember that we have a Savior who sees us, comes to us and speaks to us.
The Biblical source: Mark 6:45-51
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