28 Days of Gratitude: Day 4
“Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” (Mark 4:38)
Don’t you even care Lord? How can you sleep at a time like this? Seriously? Can’t you sense the intensity, frustration, passion, and panic in the disciples’ complaint to a sleepy Jesus?
They were caught in a ferocious storm on the Sea of Galilee in Matthew 8:23-27, and the Master who drew them out on the water decided to snooze. They basically accused him of not caring and leaving them to drown.
Do you tend to get emotional, sensitive, reactive, and nervous in storms? When you are anxious and unsure of what will happen to you, do you feel abandoned, as if no one quite gets it or cares as much as you do? If you nodded yes, this isn’t unique to you.
A PSALMIST’S COMPLAINT
In Psalm 10:1 NIV, the psalmist said, “Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” The writer, that some scholars believe is David, had a complaint that came in the form of a prayer. He was desperate for God’s rescue, and it seemed like God was distant.
Consider this. If you’ve ever been on an airplane, then you know that the higher the altitude, the smaller the things below you appear, right? Well, some people think that God is at such a high altitude, that they are too small and insignificant to be noticed. It’s as if God is unreachable and hidden in troubling times. He seems to be silent in the most tumultuous seasons when they need answers.
The psalmist wanted to know why God wasn’t doing anything to stop his foes from persecuting the poor and helpless. Whoever these enemies were, they were formidable, and they were prospering and thriving, despite having no respect for God.
“Break the arm of the wicked man,” the psalmist said in verse 15. He implores God to act, answer, and stop the torment, pain, and suffering. Think about the last time you wanted God to act and answer. Maybe your storm was brewing inside over a decision you had to make. Perhaps, your enemy was your own thoughts telling you, there is no way you will overcome an obstacle.
THERE ARE TWO ENEMIES IN YOUR STORM
There are always two enemies in every test and storm: the one outside you and the one inside you. The enemy inside can be even worse, because it talks to you and tells you: God doesn’t care that you’re drowning; He is far away; He isn’t doing anything; and He doesn’t hear you. Before you know it, instead of being positive and speaking words of faith, you are second-guessing God’s attentiveness, intentions, plans, and power to help you. This is how we get to that complaint in our key verse: I’m drowning, and God doesn’t care.
First, you will not drown. Second, God cares. Third, whenever internal panic gets the best of you in the middle of an external storm, you can self-correct. You have the power to change your thoughts and words, just as the psalmist did.
In verses 16-18, he switched his song of sorrow and complaint to a song of praise. He said: “The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed…”
What a complete transformation!
GOD IS TRANSFORMING YOUR THOUGHTS
That is what God is doing in you through this gratitude series. He is transforming your thoughts and retraining you to see and declare the truth of who He is right in the middle of a fierce the storm.
When He is finished working on you, when you feel alone, you will still declare that, He is a present help (Psalm 46:1). When you feel lost and are lacking, you will still praise Him for being your guide who satisfies your needs (Isaiah 58:11). Wen you are nervous and stressed, you will yet say that, He is a comforter when you are anxious (Psalm 94:19). When you feel threatened and fearful, you’ll yet glorify Him for being a protector who provides safety and security (Psalm 18:2).
See how that works? By focusing on the truth of who God is and not the lies that your storms and enemies tell you, you will be able to proclaim the Lord’s great works and not (falsely) complain that He isn’t working.
YOUR JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT
In your journal today, write down:
One time you panicked and God turned around and blessed you.
An amazing attribute of God.
One way He comforted you in a storm (A sermon? A devotion? A Scripture? A song?)
One way He has blessed you today.
One way He helped you grow through a crisis.
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for being near to me, even when fear and other emotions make me feel far away from You. Thank You for comforting me in anxious times and calming the storms in my life. Help me not to panic so easily and to remember that I can depend on Your faithfulness—even in stormy weather. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
What Is the 28 Days of Gratitude Series Based On?
This gratitude series is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT, which says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
In my time spent with the Lord, He dealt with me about how we have a tendency to focus on our issues, problems, challenges, and difficulties, but we are not necessarily intentional about focusing on His goodness. Failing to meditate on His works forces us into a cycle of complaining and blinds us to the amazing ways He reveals Himself on a daily basis. In all circumstances, let us be more grateful.
What do I need to participate?
To participate in this series, you will need a notebook and a journal, because it requires writing some things down. In whatever journal you choose—and it doesn’t need to be anything fancy—daily, you will write down the Scripture of the day.
The featured verse will highlight a complaint from the Bible to help you see that, throughout history, others have struggled just as you do. Yet, God desires that we be grateful. In your journal, I would ask that you write the verse you see featured on the Daily Cup blog each morning, then jot down 5 things for which you are grateful.
5 is the number of grace, so you will be focusing on the grace of God and how His mercy has been evident in your life, even during rough times. At the end of each post, 5 suggested thing to write about are listed.
