Giant Problems & a Big God

I told someone earlier this week that I'm going to look more closely at the planned sermons because as we're finishing up this series on storms I find myself in a particularly difficult storm this particular week.

I've spent the week with my dad as he undergoes cancer treatments while my mom is in Colorado for my nephew's High School graduation. This is why we moved back to southwest Ohio 4 years ago, to care for aging parents. I'm glad I'm here and have this opportunity. It's been a storm but God is bigger.

This past weekend Pastor Jennifer used the story of David & Goliath to talk about navigating the storms of our lives. A giant problem and a big God make for great stories - and great adventure. I forgot some of that earlier this week. Tuesday was a difficult day. Basically I forgot God. The "problems" were giant - juggling schedules, meeting needs, preparing for this weekend from a distance just to name a few. God was bigger than the problems on Tuesday but I forgot. I was irritable, a bit spastic some might say. Looking back I can see where I went wrong...

Third Day has a song called "Cry Out to Jesus" and that's what I forgot to do. Like David, I have stories of conquering lions and bears. I know the God I serve and who loves me. The words of the song go like this:

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

Chorus:
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They've lost all of their faith in love
And they've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

Chorus:

When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight

Chorus:

That song covers just about everything. What will I do when the giants taunt me?

I talk often of not wanting to complicate God at Cornerstone. On Tuesday I complicated God in my own life. It really is as simple as crying out to Jesus. Is He not there to help? Did He not promise to never leave us or forsake us? (Hebrews 13:5) Did He not say He would be with us until the end of the age? (Matthew 28:18-20) Did He not promise to send His Holy Spirit to live within us? (John 16:7)

In Matthew 14 we read about Peter walking on the water to Jesus but sinking:

28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

"when he saw the wind" - that's what I did on Tuesday. I saw the wind, the swirling, seemingly relentless wind instead of Jesus.

Is there wind in your life, trying to distract you from Jesus? I know at Cornerstone there is. We're just on the front edge of building a new facility for our student ministries. There's a lot of wind to distract us but I am convinced that what we are doing is mission and vision driven. Eyes on Jesus. That's the key. The wind and the waves will come. What will you do? What will we do? What will I do?