Luke 8:22-25
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Read Luke 8:22-25 imagining the scene as the story unfolds.
There’s a lot going on in this story, but let’s focus in on the nap. Jesus, fully aware of his limits as a human being, takes the opportunity of a boat ride to “settle down” and get some rest. And he must be sleeping deeply, because neither the raging storm nor the frantic noise of the disciples has any effect on him. This is the sleep of someone completely at peace and fully entrusted to God.
If Jesus needed rest, so do we all.
How comfortable are you with knowing your limits and balancing work and rest within those limits? Take a moment to meditate on the words of the Psalmist below and then talk openly with Jesus.
“Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.” – Psalm 127:1-2
Read Luke 8:22-25 again noticing anything that stands out.
Wouldn’t it be good if Jesus was always this clear about where he’s leading us? The disciples know that the other side of the lake is their destination – that’s what Jesus said – but when an unexpected storm blows through they can only see what’s right in front of them. They are sure they are doomed even though Jesus told them where they were going.
But they are with Jesus, and Jesus is with them even though he’s asleep. And when they wake him with their panic-stricken shouting, he intervenes calmly.
In the beginning God commanded humans to take dominion over the wildness of nature, and now Jesus, the only human to fully obey God, does just that. To his fallen companions, this is both amazing and terrifying.
Stop to meditate on this story and any parallels you see in your own life. Is there somewhere Jesus has clearly called you? Have you encountered obstacles on that journey?
Tell Jesus anything that is on your heart or mind right now, and then take a while to listen to him.
What is Jesus saying to you through this story?
What will you do to respond to him?
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
