Christian Living

Sea Sick

by Jeff Drinnan
12/02/20
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"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like the wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." -James 1:6

Human beings are fickle. We sometimes become enamored with something or someone, then we get tired of things or people. Our old toys no longer interest us, we don't like certain foods we used to love, and we tire of people we were thrilled to be around who become a drag.

God is not fickle. We do things that make Him angry, but He still loves us and calls us His children, although he doesn't like it when we do wrong.

That verse in James is the true definition of what modern secular psycho babble calls "bi-polar."

At a recent Bible study I attended, we studied the passages in Matthew 8 where Jesus calms the storm. The leader pointed out that Jesus had walked away from the crowds He was ministering to, healing them, as they were more interested in being healed that in the healer, Jesus. He also taught them not to be tossed by unbelief and showed them who He really is, as opposed to the beliefs in false gods that secular society held. The disciples were really scared and cried, in Matthew 8:25. "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" "Jesus responded" in verses 26 and 27 'Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!' Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. 'Who is this man?' they asked. 'Even the winds and waves obey him!'"

When Jesus went back into his own town, He encountered those who had faith in Him. "Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man 'Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.'" Matthew 9:2 But the nattering nabobs of negativism didn't believe Him, exclaiming, in Matthew 9:3 "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"

Although the Bible study I attended was sponsored by Addictions Victorious, it applies to all of us, including myself. I've been going through storms. Most recently I've had anxiety about my job, where, triggered by the counterfeit, commercial Christmas, there is mania throughout the retail store where I work, with confusion about how I can do my job, unreasonable demands from my employer, pallets squeezed into what seems every inch of space, people perpetually pulling large pallets which block passageways, as do customers. It's like I have to get a few linebackers in front of me to help me plough through the mob!

I recently read a brochure from my church which addressed anxiety, written by a Christian counselor. The example the author used was about a guy who was in a situation like mine. He felt under pressure - that he just can't seem to please his boss - and was afraid he was going to loose his job. He wife was affected, just as my girlfriend has been affected by my reaction to my struggles with my job. The guy's wife had had a panic attack in a grocery store and had to leave! By going to God and following His principles, both the guy and his wife restored their sanity. Bottom line: as my pastor has told me, do your tasks and live responsibly and count on the sovereignty of God.

Stick with God, and don't be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Otherwise, you'll get sea sick! God is the calm in our storms!