What If Jesus…

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Do you remember the texts that my husband shared with me from Monday’s posts?

What if all of God’s promises are true? 
What if His mercies really are new every morning?
What if He really knew you before you were born and has plans for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you?
What if God…

He sent this text to me in March when I was struggling to see any good of several situations I was dealing with.  I knew immediately that his words were something I wanted to share with you.  For three months it has been on my mind and agenda but hasn’t made it to the lead spot.  Until now. 

Last weekend we came late into the sermon because my husband and I lead 60-80 preschoolers in worship twice a month for the first half of the service.  My mind was racing due to several circumstances and I was struggling to focus on the message. 

Our pastor was speaking on “The Storm.”  You know the Bible story where the disciples are in a boat and Jesus has gone to the mountain to pray.  Suddenly a great storm arises and the disciples are rowing with all they got to stay alive.  Suddenly Jesus walks on the sea up to the boat.  The disciples think it is a ghost which Jesus immediately explains that it is He and not to be afraid.  Peter answers, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come You on the water.”  Peter walks on the water until he takes His eyes off Jesus and notices the waves all around him. 

Remember this story from Matthew 14:22-33?

Since our pastor is traveling through the book of Mark, our pastor focused on this Scripture.  The Mark 6:45-52 account of the story leaves out Peter walking on the water but contains the same points of the storm.  Almost like lightening to my soul, the Holy Spirit grabbed my attention when our pastor said, “What if…”.  Immediately my mind flew me back to my husband’s text. 

A slide flashed upon the screen. 

• Jesus sent me into my current storm.
  Jesus “made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side.”  (Mark 6:45)




• Jesus sees me and is praying for me through the storm.
  “And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.  Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He was them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.”  (Mark 6:46-48a)
• Jesus is coming to me in the storm.
  “Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.”  (Mark 6:48b)
• Jesus is speaking to me in the storm.
  “Immediately He talked with them.”  (Mark 6:50)




• Jesus will use the storm to show me more of Himself.
  “Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.”  (Mark 6:51)

 Now let’s add the words “what if” before each key point. 

• What if Jesus sent me into my current storm?
• What if Jesus sees me and is praying for me through the storm?
• What if Jesus is coming to me in the storm?
• What if Jesus is speaking to me in the storm?
• What if Jesus will use the storm to show me more of Himself?

Do you see how the focus is turned away from me and the storm around me and is focused on Jesus and what He is doing?

Oh how I love this!

Peter walked on water as long as his focus was on Jesus.  Peter began sinking as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the waves around him and his inability to save himself. 

What if…?

What if the storm in our lives is present because Jesus wants us to grow?  What if the storm in our lives is so that we can better understand God’s love and grace toward us?  What if God truly is sovereign?  What if His character is unchangable? 

What if God really does have a plan for me as Jeremiah 29:11 says?  A plan to prosper and not harm me.  A plan to give me hope and a future.