Stay In The Boat

During my years of addiction there were many times where I bailed on commitments, avoided when I should have completed and generally was lackadaisical in keeping my word. This was all about my selfishness and self centered attitude that if I said yes and then said no it was always acceptable.

Of course there are always extenuating circumstances that change our commitments, but when it comes to the very important ones we have to ensure our stick to it attitude sticks. Like our faith, and our subsequent desire to find recovery from addiction or other recurring sins we are dealing with.

In Mark 4:35-41 Jesus gives us a great lesson in this.  Going over to the other side of the lake in the boat with his disciples they encounter a storm (in our case something so difficult we can't keep our commitment), and they find him sleeping while the storm batters the boat (our life). They ask him a question, Teacher don't you care if we drown?

In those situations we either don't consult God or keep asking for guidance and he doesn't answer. We forget several things as the disciples did. Jesus said Let's go over to the other side.  First, that implies they will get there, no storm will stop the arrival, they forgot his power. Next he taught a lesson of faith, in other words, stay in the boat don't bail out, you may get wet and battered but staying in the boat gets you through it, faith is the key. As he said Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

The one who can stop the wind, calm the waves of daily troubles can do anything, but sometimes the lesson is simple, have the faith to believe that if we commit our lives to God he will do what he says he will do - we will get to the other side. It may be tough, it may require selflessness, but when we feel like bailing:

Stay In The Boat!