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Pastor’s Corner

By Mike Bronson - | Aug 19, 2009

It has been accurately said that you are either going into a storm, through a storm, or coming out of one. Where do you turn to when the unexpected storms of life strike?

If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, you know that when the storm comes the Lord Jesus is there. You know he cares. But let’s be honest — sometimes we have trouble trusting him when the storm is raging.

In John 6, Jesus has an important statement that I believe can bring peace to a troubled heart. In the middle of a raging storm that his disciples endured, Jesus said these words: “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.”

First, that is an authoritative statement. It tells us Jesus is in control.

You may say, “If he’s in control, why did he let those disciples go through a storm?” There are so many truths that we cannot learn when life is easy. There are life lessons we learn in a calamity that we do not learn in the calm. Regardless of the lessons we are to learn, it is important to remember that he is in control of the storm. Maybe you feel like you are going under for the last time. Read it again: Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.”

It’s not only an authoritative statement, it’s an amazing statement. It tells us that Jesus individually cares for us. That’s important to remember because you can have some of the most foolish, faithless thoughts in midst of a storm.

Satan whispers his dirty mouth in your ear.

He says, “Jesus doesn’t exist. Jesus doesn’t care.” But Jesus does care. “Take courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.”

That’s not only an amazing statement, it is an attractive statement. Doesn’t that make your heart just rest? Doesn’t it make you just take a breath and relax in his sovereignty? There’s something very attractive about realizing that you are in God’s care.

This is the God-man who went to the cross for you and I. Jesus died for our sins so that we might have eternal life. There’s something very attractive about that. Not attractive as in beautiful but attractive as in comforting. There is something deeply moving about what Jesus did on the cross for you. Then He was raised from the dead. He conquered sin. He conquered death. You can have eternal life by trusting in him.

— Mike Bronson is pastor at West Haven Baptist Church.