There is an Anchor in Your Storms of Life

The nature of storms has always been a fascinating phenomenon to human beings because of the impact they can have. Storms disrupt events and can cause some challenges, such as damaging structures and cancelling events, but more than that, they create fear because they can ruin our plans as people. The story in Matthew 8:23-27 introduces us to the sudden nature of a storm and the disciples' response. Having decided to follow him, listening to his teachings, and being in his presence, they still fear the storm they were confronted with instead of realising who was in their boat.

"Then he got into a boat, and his disciples followed him. Suddenly, a furious storm appeared on the lake, and the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, which was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him." (Matthew 8: 23-27, NIV).

In ministry, leading an institution and shepherding God's flock, we can experience many challenges that bring fear and hopelessness. These feelings often come because we somehow feel that our abilities and experiences failed us. I call them the storms of ministry and life. In the text, there are three things that I would like to reflect on that I think can help many of us, as it helped me lead God's people.

First, they followed Jesus; our perspective must remain that as servants, we remain followers of Jesus. There is a tendency to rely on our intellect, position or experience.

How can you and I always remind ourselves that we need to remain humble followers of Christ in our walk with him?

Secondly, the disciples acknowledge their limitations and vulnerabilities and where their strength comes from. They did not depend on what they knew but who they knew. Our realisation of our complete dependence must be in Him in moments of the storms that life and the ministry bring.

And finally, fear can paralyse our faith. The fact that Christ points out that the disciples' fear results from their lack of trust and confidence in Him and perhaps realising that their experience and knowledge are not enough to save them. How can our faith take a primary position over what we know and our experience so that in times of our storms in life and ministry, we hold on to our faith in Christ over our fears?

I am reminded of the hymn "Will Your Anchor Hold?"

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife,

the strong tides lift,

and the cables strain,

will your anchor remain firm?

-(Song by Robin Mark)

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• Praise - for districts who continue to support the ministry of NTC through prayer and education budget giving!

• Pray for the NTC staff who are teaching and coordinating ministerial training programmes. 

• Pray for the ongoing work of writing new course materials for ministerial training.

• Pray for the 9 students in ministerial training on the campus of NTC, and the ministerial students enrolled in VCOS in district learning centres.

• Pray for business for GNCC to support the mission of NTC.

• Pray for Rev. Errol & Dr. Rhonda Carrim, who are currently on home assignment.

• Pray for the new church year and District Assemblies.