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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is asleep in the boat. To be asleep means to be in a state of sleep. Jesus was asleep in the boat amidst the storms. We shall reflect on the fact that Jesus was asleep in the boat because He had power over the windstorm.

Beloved in the Lord, Jesus was asleep in the boat because He had power over the windstorm. We are told that “But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” (Mark 4:38-39). Dear friend, we know that Jesus has the power to overcome the windstorm because He assures us in Matthew 28:18 that “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (Matthew 28:18). The storm can only terrify the disciples of Jesus but not Jesus who is its Master. Jesus was asleep in the boat because the storm had no power, influence or dominion over Him. We also see Jonah fast asleep and certainly untroubled and undisturbed by the windstorm the Lord hurled at the ship in which he was travelling. “But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. ⁵ Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.” (Jonah 1:4-5) Jonah like Jesus was asleep in the midst of the windstorm and turbulence because He knew God has power over the windstorm. Beloved in the Lord, windstorms represent challenges and troubles in our lives. They are meant to cause us sleepless nights, anxiety and despair. Believers who are able to fall asleep like Jesus in the boat are those who have faith that they are not alone in the storm and turbulence. They have surrendered all to Jesus and have cast all their burdens onto Him hence their ability to sleep regardless of the stormy situation.

Beloved in the Lord, without faith we cannot fall asleep or experience peace of mind and stability in a challenging or turbulent situation. It is for this reason, “He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm because He knew that His Father had given Him power and dominion over the windstorm. Do you also believe because of your relationship with Jesus you also have power and dominion over the windstorms or challenges that come your way in life? We are greatly emboldened and empowered to sleep and relax in the midst of the storms in our lives when Jesus assured us that “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. (Luke 10:19). It takes faith to exercise the authority given to us and to rest to be assured that we can sleep knowing that the Holy Spirit is in control over our precarious and challenging situations. Again, let us pray, have faith and sleep knowing for a fact that we are not alone. When Nebuchadnezzar threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the burning fiery furnace for refusing to worship the golden image he had set up, they were relaxed in the burning fiery furnace because they had faith in God and were not alone. “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ²⁵ He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” (Daniel 3:24-25,28). Beloved in the Lord, we are not alone in the struggles and challenges in our lives. “Ame le miasi” means we are not alone, we have a dependable companion who has power over the windstorms in our lives and this dependable companion is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in light of this fact that Herman Voss reminds us through his song “With Jesus in my boat” that,
With Jesus In My Boat I Can
Smile In The Storm [3] With Jesus In My Boat I Can
Smile In The Storm When I’m Sailing Home
When I’m Sailing Home [2] With Jesus In My Boat I Can
Smile In The Storm When I’m Sailing Home.

Dear friend, for many of us it is impossible to sleep when all is not well, It is impossible to fall asleep when our hearts are troubled by the windstorms of life such as accidents, unemployment, marital issues, disappointments, betrayals and the demise of a loved one. In the midst of all these challenges, Horatio Gate Spafford taught us to still put our faith in God when he wrote the hymn “Peace like a river” when he lost his four children (all girls) through a ship accident. When he got to the very spot where they died, he wrote the hymn,
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”Refrain (may be sung after final stanza only):
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Dear friend, with Jesus in our lives, we can also sleep, knowing and believing that it is well with us in our Lord and Saviour Jesus.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme, “Asleep in the boat”. We have underscored the fact that Jesus was asleep in the boat because He had power over the windstorm. We must also be encouraged and assured that with Jesus in our boat, we can also fall asleep in the midst of our troubles and challenges while trusting Him to have power over the windstorms in our lives.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray for the strength and ability to put our faith in the Lord when we encounter windstorms in our lives.
2. Let us pray to experience the peace of the Lord amidst the challenges we face in life.
3. Let us pray for countries hit by natural disasters and conflicts. May the Lord grant them full restoration and peace.

Lord Jesus, thank you for reassuring us that we are not alone in the boat of life. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen our faith to overcome fear and doubt when we are faced with challenges. Lord Jesus, help us to find peace and sound sleep in the midst of the windstorms of life. Amen.