Editor's Note: These are devotionals I have had with the Lord and wanted to share what I have learned.

Quiet Times: ( Psalm 70, Proverbs 10, and Mark 4:35-41)

^"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41, NIV)

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." (Mark 4:35, NIV)

 I asked myself what the disciples do.

^"Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat." (Mark 4:36, NIV)

Observation/Interpretations:

I asked myself what sticks out to me regarding Jesus and the disciples.

I found it very interesting that the disciples “took him along, just as he was, in the boat.”

 Anything that is mentioned in the Bible has significance and I wondered to myself about, “they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.”

Then it occurred to me that Jesus must have been really, really tired. Teaching can take a lot out of a person. Jesus was teaching the crowds and explaining the parables to His disciples and those around him not to mention all the healing Jesus was involved in. In His humanity, Jesus faced the things we have and yet was without sin. His body needed rest and that is evidenced by the verse, “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” (Mark 4:38, NIV)

I asked myself what was happening as Jesus was asleep on the cushion.

While Jesus was asleep on the cushion, three things were happening:

Mind you, while all this was happening Jesus was still asleep on the cushion. None of these events woke Jesus up but one event did wake Jesus up. It had nothing to do with nature but with voices. Jesus is in control of nature and He did not allow what was happening to hinder Him from His sleep except the frantic voices He heard.

His disciples were obedient in crossing to the other side as Jesus wanted them to but in their obedience they also faced trials and tribulations that were getting them frightened and down, making them doubt the Lord’s care for them.

I asked myself what the disciples did.

The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" (Mark 4:38, NIV)

I asked myself, why it is significant that the disciples had to wake Jesus up.

Point 1:

It is very significant because not even the storm, winds beating into the boat, nor water filling up the boat could wake Jesus up.  The only thing I can think of is that Jesus was in a deep sleep. I believe Jesus too was very tired after all the work He was doing. We have to realize that when Jesus was here on earth, Jesus experienced the same things we do except He was with no sin.  

Point 2:

It is very significant because we come to learn the faith of the disciples. The disciples had already been with Jesus, they had heard his teachings and seen His miracles. Yet, they were really scared what was going to happen to them because of the circumstances they were faced with. They even questioned Jesus if he cared for them. They still did not have the faith, Jesus wanted them to have.

I asked myself what Jesus did.

Jesus did five things, three of which were done immediately!  I found it interesting how Jesus responds to their frantic voices waking Him up. He addresses their problem and fear first.

The first three things were:

1. Jesus got up.

2. Jesus rebuked the wind.

3. Jesus said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”

I asked myself what the cause-effect relationship was.

Because Jesus said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’, the wind died down and it was completely calm.

I asked myself what Jesus does now.

Now Jesus addresses the disciples with two questions:

1. Why are you so afraid?

2. Do you still have no faith?

What is significant about the five things Jesus did?

Jesus woke up at the prompting of His disciples. He did not stay in bed, though he may have been tired, when He realized others needed His help. He took authority of nature and there was calmness once again.

What can we learn from Jesus’ actions and the disciples’ actions?

Point 1: Jesus’ actions

We come to realize the humanity of Jesus in this passage including His Divinity. If Jesus needed to sleep after all the work He had been doing, how much more we need to sleep. Rest is a very important component that we all need. If we exhaust ourselves, we may come to the point where we can sleep through exams, work, etc. I know that I need to conform to this principle.

It does not do any good to work, work, work without getting adequate rest. You may think to yourselves that you have so much work to do that you do not have time for rest. But, God wants His children to get adequate rest.

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for He gives His beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:2)

Point 2: Disciples actions

We see the disciples doubting Jesus' care for them during the circumstances they were facing. They insinuated that Jesus may not care even if they perished. Jesus did care though and took care of the disciples. In the Psalms we learn, it is better to trust in God than put confidence in men.

"It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in men." (Psalm 118:8)

This principle was not adhered to here with the  disciples. They were relying on their own understanding when turmoil broke rather than put their confidence in Jesus. Jesus had every right to ask the question he asked of the disciples concerning  faith.

Point 3: Jesus’ actions  

Jesus very well could have been hurt because of the disciples lack of faith. The question He poses is meant for the disciples to think back to the times of Jesus' miracles. Still, Jesus in His love did not ignore the disciples in their time of need. The two questions posed by Jesus were done after alleviating the disciples’ fears. While they were fearful Jesus wanted to handle the fear first. That is so cool and awesome of Jesus to meet them where they were and then to address their weaknesses. Jesus was with them through the storm even though they felt that Jesus did not care for them.

Amazing even after this the disciples response is:
"They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41, NIV)

Implications:

I saw important implications for my own life I want to share with you. When Jesus wanted them to go to the other side, the disciples obeyed Jesus and took Jesus along with them, just as He was, in the boat. During their obedience, they also faced trials and tribulations that were getting them frightened and down, making them doubt the Lord’s care for them.

 There have been many times I have done things believing I was doing them in obedience to the Lord. As I was obedient in that particular area, I would be hit with trials and tribulations in that area.

 When Jesus asks me to do something, He is aware of the situations at hand. In my limited mind set I am not aware of everything that could come out of my obedience which includes possible trials and tribulations but whatever comes obedience to the Lord should be a priority.

 I was obedient to the Lord in many situations and did face a lot of trials and tribulations. In those trials and tribulations, rather than having confidence in the Lord, I started to doubt and even wondered if the Lord really cared for me in the situation I was in.

Few years ago, I was so confident that there was an area of ministry that the Lord wanted me to do so in obedience I kept doing it. It dealt with shepherding and leading a group of leaders in ministry. By God’s grace, I was able to work with 4 different leadership teams. I felt the Lord wanted me to do that for 3 more years. I was so sure that is what the Lord wanted me to do. Then circumstances started happening around me that I was relieved of that position.

That really hurt me and made me doubt the Lord whether He even cared. I thought to myself, “If He cared, why not let me finish what I felt He wanted me to do three more years”

 Anyway it did not happen and the storms were heavy around me. The waves of life were hitting me head on and it filled my mind with so many doubts to the point that I felt figuratively paralyzed. Soon my mind was filled with so much apprehension and gloom that my faith was starting to sink literally.

 All I worked for, I felt was going down the drain. I would not have ever put myself in that position if I did not strongly believe the Lord wanted me to do that. My philosophy has always been why start something if you cannot finish it to the end especially if it is for a good cause. Of course, there have been times I have erred and not finished what I started.

 As I started to sink in my faith, I frantically searched for answers and asked the Lord, “Why Lord is this happening when I believed you were the One to put me here?”

The Lord intervened to help me by reminding me of the good times I did have with previous leadership teams as I was obedient to Him.

Then another set back came!  I had taken tons of pictures of taking previous leadership teams to camp. One day while returning from camp, I lost all those pictures that I had pulled from the album and put in a box. They were visible memories I had working with previous leadership teams.

 Could this have been a sign or foreshadowing that I would lose working with future leadership teams? As I look back it seemed like that! 

It was painful for me and the Lord knew that. He could have had those pictures sent to me right away after they were lost even though there was not an address on the box that I can recall. With the Lord all things are possible but at that moment this did not happen because the Lord knew what He was doing.

 Do you know when I did receive those pictures back?

It took eight months and three days. The three days are very significant to me because they arrived on Good Friday that year, three days after I was relieved of my position in shepherding future leadership teams.

Was the Lord telling me something?

Of course He was and He was trying to make it simple and clear to me! Jesus was letting me know that with Him all things are possible!  It was really significant to receive it that particular day because I knew Jesus was telling me that He loved me, cared for me, died for my sins to save me, and was looking after me even in this storm I was facing though I was still badly hurt. As, I look back He really was looking after me!

 When I looked back at all those pictures, I felt like the Lord was telling me, “Look at all the things you did accomplish for me while working with previous leadership teams. They are wonderful memories to keep in mind and they are here because you have been obedient to me.”

I felt like the disciples, being frantically frightened and shouting for Jesus’ help through my circumstances after being obedient. Mostly, I could sense the Lord asking me, “Ramesh, why were you so fearful, even after all this time, don’t you yet have confidence in me?”

I was faced with that after the Lord worked in my life and quieted a lot of fears and brought calmness to my heart. You know to this day I wish I could have still worked with different leadership teams but I have not been able to due to different circumstances. There have still been times I have been sad because I really felt I was supposed to make a difference with the Lord’s help but the Lord had other plans for me.

 Many of the circumstances were circumstances in my own personal life I had to overcome.  But, the awesome thing is the Lord intervened and has brought peace to my soul and has shown me how He has still used me for His glory on the campus without having a position to lead future leadership teams.

 Why do I share all this personal stuff with you? It is because I saw myself in fear and doubt as the disciples did and the Lord yet intervened. Jesus could have been like, ‘I am not going to deal with him anymore after everything I have already done in his life.’ On the contrary, Jesus reached out to me and still reaches out in some powerful ways to this day!

Lord could have kept me there but He allowed me to be relieved. Today, on this day of March 11, 2006, as I look back, I am so thankful how far the Lord has brought me in His mercy and grace that I want to cry in joy.

After being relieved of my position during the spring, Jesus worked in the leaders of another ministry who recruited me to write for a monthly newspaper they started with the purpose to glorify Christ on campus. Soon, I became the Managing Editor of the paper and eventually Editor-in-Chief the following summer.

That would not have been possible, if I was still involved with the ministry because the newspaper meetings happened at the same time as the other meetings. That would not also have happened if my columnist application with the Pitt News was accepted. Both things that I saw as storms had to happen for the Lord to bring me to the place He wanted me at!

To this day, the Lord has been using the paper which you all have come to know as Pittsburgh Standard which is changing lives on campus and elsewhere as the Lord allowed me to get rights to the paper and run it as an online newspaper after the print edition stopped. Also, we have a student organization called Pittsburgh Standard.

There are obstacles here too but am depending on the Lord to help me through them for I know He will! I want to share with you two testimonies the Lord has sent to encourage me.

One of the testimonies  was from a student who encouraged me to continue with the paper when she told me few years ago that the devotionals she received through Pittsburgh Standard played a role to help her give her life to Jesus Christ so that He can be her Lord and Personal Savior. 

Another testimony just came nine months ago from a person who told me that one of the devotionals really helped to make a decision in her life in confidence as she depends on Jesus to be her Light of the World. Recently, a student wrote to me thanking me for the devotionals that the Lord has used in her life.

Our Lord can bring good even out of the storms. I know I have been there. Not only is Jesus using Pittsburgh Standard to change lives but it has been such a blessing to know when “Pittsburgh Standard.com” is typed in GOOGLE, it comes first for people to find it easily. I do not know how long the Lord wants me to continue with Pittsburgh Standard but I give myself up to the Lord to be used as His servant.

I am also blessed to have a wonderful job that I love where I have opportunities to reach students with the love of Jesus Christ! If the Lord calls me back to leadership in a ministry setting, I would still be honored to go as I wait upon the Lord! Wherever the Lord calls, I pray I will go!

I ask you now dear friends, what are the storms in your life?

Dear friend, there will be times in your life when you feel everything is going wrong for you or has gone wrong for you. You may have lost some one you love, you may have lost what you loved to do, you may have lost your joy, you may be dealing with someone who has been sick, etc which become storms in your life that need calming.

You could even know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. Yet, when you look at the circumstances in your life, you may want to question Jesus' love and care for you. Please don't! Jesus does love you so much and cares for you. If He cared for the disciples, cares for me in my sinfulness, I know He will care for you and carry you in your pain.

When circumstances do not go our way, it does not mean the Lord does not love us anymore. It is easy for us to lean on our own understanding but the Lord wants us to lean on Him.

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

It is wrong for us to think, just because we are Christians and the Lord is in our life, God should make things happen our way. I have had that mentality. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus teaches us that there will be trials and tribulations but we also learn that we can receive strength and power from the Savior.

Friend, even when we believe we are obedient to the Lord and follow His calling just as the disciples followed His calling to get to the other side, storms of life are not exempt. While they were going in the boat is when the storms came. After how the Lord already worked in their lives and those around them, they could have strongly believed in the Lord’s intervention and help but they were fearful and filled with doubt.

 As storms happened to me, it may have happened to each of you too. I do not know but this I do know when the Lord calls us to something, it will not always be peachy but what we can be assured friend is that His love is reaching and He will be looking after us. Whatever storms you are facing right now, you do not have to face the storms on your own. You do not have to let it sink you and be hit by the waves of life in a negative way. There is no problem too deep that the Lord cannot solve it.

 You can receive the help from the Lord. He does calm our fears and brings us peace. Every situation we are in may not be solved to our liking. If that were the case, I would still be shepherding leaders in ministry but the Lord in His mercy will give us the strength and endurance to bear and give us areas we can rejoice in Him! Praise the Lord! Amen!

So no matter what storms you are facing, whether they are academic, relational, spiritual in nature, etc know that Jesus loves you so much. He knows your pain and your doubts. He will not abandon you as an orphan in the storm but will come to you as His Word promises in John 14. This is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. The chapter starts out with, Jesus saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled, you are trusting God, now trust in me.” (John 14:1, TLB)

It is trust we need especially in the storms of life for He is able to keep us from falling and He who began a good work in us will finish it to completion. Never give up but turn to the Lord in your storms and know that He will answer you. There are times the storm will totally disappear and other times through the storm, He will keep you strengthened and help you to move on. I have not given up on direct ministry for I know my Redeemer will allow me to shepherd leaders in ministry again if He chooses too. I also know He is the One who can provide wonderfully.

The final point I learned is that my obedience to the Lord should not be on the condition that things will go well for me but my obedience should be so  I can see the face of the Lord and one day He can say, “Well, done my good and faithful servant!”

It is not always easy for me to share my devotional times  but I do it because I love to share it with you friend and most of all because I feel this is what the Lord wants me to do.

May you rest in the Lord through the storms of your own life!  Savior today offers rest mightily saving, by giving you the strength and peace through the storms of life. Amen! I do believe we all receive the help we need according to His glorious will! Amen!   May you all rest in Him!

 There is a wonderful song by Scott Wesley Brown called, “He will carry you” that will be playing in the background as you read this. You should look for another song called “Praise the Lord” by the Imperials which addresses storms of life too.

May we not be so overcome by negative circumstances that we lose faith but may we trust in the Lord through those circumstances. It is my prayer that we all can do that!

“Savior Today Offers Rest Mightily, Saving!”(S.T.O.R.M.S)/"What are the storms in your life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for all that you teach me from your Word. Just as the disciples feared and doubted during the storm, we have our own doubts and fears during the storms of our life. We are sorry Lord that after all that you have done for us, when things don’t go well for us, we sometimes doubt your care for us. I know Lord that I have been so guilty of that. Even in my doubts thank you for showing me your abundant love and grace. I know Lord circumstances in my life made the storms hit me harder but I also know you love me and are watching over me no matter what happens. Help me not to base the extent of your love for me based on the good things that happen to me. If nothing else happens, let us know you love us remembering what you did for us at Calvary. You took the nails that pierced your hands and feet for me. This I have come to see. You also took the thorns and lashes to pay for my sins’ strife so that through the washing of your Blood, I can be cleansed of my sin in life. Thank you Jesus! Please give us the strength to bear through the pains and always know your love for us. Thank you Jesus for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for coming back to life to save us! We turn our lives over to thee and to the usage of your plan. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You can pray this prayer with me to offer yourself to Jesus!

Dear Jesus, thank you for being born in Bethlehem in a stable. You had a humble beginning even though you are the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am so sorry for my sins and confess all of them to you. Please Jesus forgive me of my sin and set me free from any bondage I am in. I turn myself over to you and offer myself as a present to you this New Year. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. I do not know all I want to know about you but I want to start my journey with you and learn from you as I feed upon you and draw my nourishment from you. Help me please Jesus. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you for saving us and being there for us. Please come Jesus into my heart and make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and I will serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Help me in my journey with you Oh Lord. Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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