boats?

devotion at OCF today was refering to Matt 14:22 about Jesus walking on water and His disciples in the boat during the storm.

we are in a boat travelling towards a goal. to pass and do well in our exams or in the long run, graduate.

we may ask why? what's all this storm for?
it is for His glory may be reveiled to us. through the 'storms'. sometimes, i wonder how...
it recalls memories of the past. questionings and directionless moments and periods. (but that's another area of faith and seeing a small jigsaw puzzle, and waiting for the each puzzle, bit by bit to show before seeing the whole picture.)

Jesus said, "take courage and do not be afraid."

i was thinking in another aspect...
we see the whole picture of the storm, of course, because we are in it.

imagine the picture on a paper, if we cut out all of the storm and just have Jesus walking and Peter(us) looking at Him. its calmer and less stressful, right?

that's how we are to look unto Jesus. He is in the storm with us. He wasn't in heaven helping us or asking us how we are doing from above. but He is with us by our side.

Jesus was walking on water IN the storm. do we have faith to walk on the water with Him?

He is Emmanuel, God with us.

and just like the song i posted earlier (and also the song below), are we still ever praising and worshipping God, regardless being in the ups, highs, happiness, joy, good times OR the downs, lows, sadness, sorry, bad times, stress?

we should. always.

My soul follows hard after Thee
Early in the morning
Will I rise up and seek Thee
And because Thou hast been my help
Under the shadow of Thy wings
I will rejoice

Words and Music by Jeffrey Smith

in the first part of Romans 8:38,
'Nothing can seperate us from the love of God. ...'

Psalms 91:4
'He will shield you with his wings. He will shelter you with his feathers. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.'