Two young women, who were good friends, were out on a boat near dusk. Then unexpectedly, the boat stopped working. The women did not have the means to return to shore and they began to be concerned for their safety. They then determined to pray throughout the night and they were a support for one another.
The younger woman, at a time during her prayer, did not perceive the waters to be choppy, even though she was standing in the boat. Then Jesus came to them in another boat, saying “Be not afraid, it is I!” It was shortly before dawn. The older woman smiled knowingly, she knew that the waters had, in reality, been choppy.
There is a depth of inexhaustible meaning in Scripture- the beauty of exploring its richness is hard to put into words. Stories too provide layers of depth and meaning to the reader. However, to help give focus to the story above, Psalm 23 speaks of the faithful person fearing no evil in the knowledge that God is a Good Shepherd to us.
Each one of us struggles with suffering and dark times in our lives. Even when God appears not to be visibly active or present in such a situation, God's love can empower us with a confident, expectant trust in God acting in our lives and responding to our prayers ( Matthew 7:7-11). Such confidence is a pure gift of love that God wants to give to us and to experience with other faithful people.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
- Kent Hodgson
The younger woman, at a time during her prayer, did not perceive the waters to be choppy, even though she was standing in the boat. Then Jesus came to them in another boat, saying “Be not afraid, it is I!” It was shortly before dawn. The older woman smiled knowingly, she knew that the waters had, in reality, been choppy.
There is a depth of inexhaustible meaning in Scripture- the beauty of exploring its richness is hard to put into words. Stories too provide layers of depth and meaning to the reader. However, to help give focus to the story above, Psalm 23 speaks of the faithful person fearing no evil in the knowledge that God is a Good Shepherd to us.
Each one of us struggles with suffering and dark times in our lives. Even when God appears not to be visibly active or present in such a situation, God's love can empower us with a confident, expectant trust in God acting in our lives and responding to our prayers ( Matthew 7:7-11). Such confidence is a pure gift of love that God wants to give to us and to experience with other faithful people.
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
- Kent Hodgson
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