When I think about our upcoming transition, and the events of the past few days, I am reminded of a message that I recently heard at a Group Workcamp being held at Delanco Camp this past June. As we get set to depart, and head off to a place where darkness is much more prevalent, I cannot think of a more appropriate message than this one!
This year's theme for the Group Workcamps all across the country and internationally is this:
Not only did they present this question throughout the week to the campers, but they also focused on different questions each night that centered on this theme.
This particular night the question was, "Why Are you Afraid?"
I slipped into the back of the service as the speaker was teaching the evening session in the tabernacle. He was teaching from Matthew 8:23-27, when Jesus calms the storm...
Scripture tells us that Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and while they were on the water, a great storm arose and the boat was being overcome by waves.... and as all of this was happening, Jesus was asleep! The disciples ran to wake Him up and said to Jesus, "Save us Lord; we are perishing."
Jesus responds by saying these words:
"Why are you afraid...?"
I had never thought much about this response until I sat in the tabernacle at Delanco that night...
After listening to the message that night I realized that this question is SO poignant! You see, Jesus didn't ask His disciples WHAT they were afraid of... He didn't ask them to explain WHAT was going on when they woke Him out of sleep... He simply asked them WHY?
It didn't matter WHAT was going on around them that night... the details surrounding their fears were NOT important....
What mattered was WHO was in their presence...
WHO was with them during that storm...
Jesus asked them WHY they were afraid, because they had NO reason to be- they were in the presence of JESUS!
It doesn't matter what it is that we are facing, or what struggle we are going through...
NO matter what it is that seems to be against us or before us... we don't have to be afraid! The WHATS of this life pale in comparison to the ONE who can calm the wind and the waves, the ONE who has defeated sin and death!
I LOVE the words to Chris Tomlin's song- Whom Shall I Fear?... They speak so clearly to the truth of Scripture...
As we face trials and difficulties and struggles, and as we feel fear or worry creep in... we need to remind ourselves that we have no need to fear, our God is in control!
Here are the lyrics to that song (emphasis added by me!)...
You hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It CAN NOT hide the Light
Whom shall I fear?
You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my Sword and Shield
Though troubles linger still
Whom shall I fear?
I know Who goes before me
I know Who stands behind
The God of Angel Armies
Is ALWAYS by my side
The One Who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of Angel Armies
Is ALWAYS by my side
My strength is in Your Name
For You alone can save
You WILL deliver me
Yours is the victory
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
And NOTHING formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hand
I'm holding on to Your promises
You are faithful!
YOU ARE FAITHFUL!
My prayer is that I will always remember this truth- that the God of Angel Armies goes before us and stands behind us, that He is faithful and He is ALWAYS at our side as we go... 2 Haiti 4 Him!
In the end, it's not about being brave, is it. It's about His age-old question of, "Do You Trust Me?" Even in our moments of great unknowns, it's still not about what we're made of, but about where our faith lies. Can't wait to be neighbors!
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