Are Sharks Real?

Last week I crashed at my new house after having painted the basement, while the rest of my clan stayed home for the night. While I was away, my three-year-old daughter had a brutal nightmare. When Becky went in to see what was wrong, Lucy was virtually inconsolable. Finally, after the tears began to diminish and her breath was slowly returning, she turned to Becky and asked, "Are sharks real?" It became clear that my little one had been dreaming about sharks and was absolutely terrified at what had taken place in that dream. Becky was left with little choice but to tell Lucy that "yes, indeed sharks are real."

In life there are two types of fears that we will each encounter. First, there is the self-imposed fear. This is the fear that manages to creep in every time we allow it. This fear tells us that we are not good at what we do. It tells us that we are un-likable, unusable and unworthy of life itself. These fears are created by the individual and have no actual power other than what we give it. Then there is actual fear. These are the fears we should be aware of since they can do significant damage if not protected against. A bus, for example, is something you may want to look out for when crossing the street. This kind of awareness is what keeps us safe since being hit by a bus can be very bad for your health. And yes, I am sad to say, sharks are real and can pose a real threat to life if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. This does not, however, mean that we should stop swimming in the ocean as a result. When our fears control us, we loose. Whether it be our own insecurities or the thought of a crashing market, fear can never be allowed to dictate our path.

Romans 8:31 says "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" As followers of Christ we must realize that we are playing for the winning team. It may appear at times as though we are fighting a loosing battle, but at this point we need to be reminded that the battle has already been won. If God is for us, then there is no fear, perceived or actual, that has any power over us. Sin has been conquered, Jesus has risen and if you skip to the end of the story, you will find out that Jesus will return and if we have a relationship with him we will spend eternity in His splendour. Now with all of that in mind, what do we really have to fear?

Rob

The Breaking Storm

This past Saturday I awoke to the sound of rain against the roof. Having camped for many years and since I have always loved the rain, this was a very pleasant way to wake up. As I often do in heavy rain or thunder storms, I headed for the front porch to watch the brilliance of nature take place.

There were grey clouds stretched out in every direction, as far as the eye could see, with no end in sight giving the storm a certain invincibility. I watched for some time with little or no variations in the rain, until finally I noticed a small opening in the clouds give way. The other clouds quickly raced to the spot of the opening in an attempt to close the hole with no success. I then watched as the opening began to grow and soon other clouds began to break apart as well. I was fascinated by the whole event and watched it until its completion. Before long the once invincible storm had been defeated by the blue skies that lay beneath its surface. I looked at the ground and noticed that the effects of the storm were still very noticeable. The ground was wet and small streams ran down my street making their way to the nearest drain. But before long, the sun that was now strong in the sky, began to dry the fallen water. Someone who may have slept through the rain would not have known that there was a storm at all.

This beautiful act of God reminded me so much of my life and the trials that occur in it, that I simply marveled at His creation and felt a deep sense of worship. My life resembles much of what took place that Saturday morning. There are times when all I can see is grey. No matter where I look, it would seem that the storm I am in is invincible and that there is no possible way to escape its power. Then, without warning at times, something begins to happen. The blue skies that were always beneath the surface begin to break away the grey. No matter how hard the storm tries to hold on, it is no match for the Son. Although the effects of the storm often take longer to clear, eventually that healing takes place as well. Before I know it, I am once again able to bask in the glory of the Son and feel His warmth against my face.

No matter where you are right now, whether it be in the middle of the storm or waiting to heal from its effects, remember that the grace of Jesus Christ is always there and He will deliver you from whatever storm you are in.

May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ be abundant in your life and may you rely on Him to comfort you until the breaking of the storm.

Rob