Even if things in my life don’t turn out the way I hoped, I will still trust God.
Have you ever had a day when nothing you planned turned out right? How about a couple of days? A week? A season? A year? A few years? Or when it seems to never end?
In the final letter of our acronym REVIVE. E is for “Even If.”
In Luke 8:22-25, Jesus tells the disciples to get into a boat with Him. The plan is to cross to the other side of the lake.
It was supposed to be a simple proposal. Jesus even went down below the boat to take a nap. Many of the disciples were seasoned fishermen. James and John sons of Zabedee. Peter and Andrew. They knew what to expect. But then the trip encountered the unexpected.
A fierce storm. Turbulent wind. Raging waves.
Did the boat protect them from the elements? No. In fact, “the water was filling up with water, and they were in real danger.” (Luke 8:23)
In our life. The boat we are sailing in. The vessel we are placing our expectations to get us where we want to go. That boat is going to fail you. Water is going to pour in and flood it. The wind is going to vehemently sweep you off your intended course. The waves are going to violently push against the boat so that you lose balance and have to hang on for dear life.
So where is Jesus? The disciples wake him up. Jesus then comes to take control. He takes away the power of the wind and the waves. The storm surrenders under the authority of Jesus. Immediately.
”Then Jesus asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’” (Luke 8:25)
What did Jesus want them to learn from this storm?
Even if.
Even if the wind is blowing against you. Even if the waves work to unbalance you. Even if the storm rages against your favor. Even if the boat of your entire life is flooding over with water.
Even if.
Trust me. I am in the boat with you. Have faith.
Even if life brings the unexpected and you were expecting something else. Even if that one thing you wanted so much didn’t happen the way you hoped.
Even if. I am still here. Have faith.