Mark 6:50
“For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
One of my favorite store bought cookies are Oreo cookies. I like the Oreo cookie because inside of the two hard layers is a layer of frosting that makes the cookie good. Nobody would like the Oreo cookie if it didn’t have the frosting. That frosting in the middle makes the two hard layers more enjoyable. Truly, you should face your storms of life just like you enjoy the Oreo cookie.
Right after Jesus fed five thousand men, He commanded His disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side. He told them that He would meet them over on the other side. It was about three o’clock in the morning and the disciples were facing inclement weather. A storm had come and they were doing everything in their power to make it to the other side. It was while they were trying to get to the other side that they saw Jesus walking on the water, and after getting into the boat Jesus said, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
It is never easy when the storms of life come our way. Many times we are trying to get to the other side so we can do God’s will when we are caught in the inclement storms of life. I am not talking about storms that we have caused, but I am talking about storms that are completely beyond our power. How is it that we are to face these storms?
First, when facing inclement storms in life, “Be of good cheer.” Having a good attitude when facing storms is not easy. Yet, when the storms come, we are to still have a cheerful spirit. As a Christian, you are not to allow the storms to control your disposition, but you are to allow the Holy Spirit to control your disposition. Instead of being grumpy and short with people, you are to be of good cheer.
Second, don’t be afraid when the storms come your way. There is no doubt that the first reaction that happens when storms come your way is to fear, but God commands us not to be afraid. You don’t have to be afraid when you realize that the storm will eventually be over.
However, how can we not be afraid and be of good cheer when the storms come our way? The way to face those storms is to look at them the same way you look at an Oreo cookie. In the middle of “Be of good cheer” and “be not afraid” is the statement, “It is I.” I love it that the command to look at Christ was sandwiched in between being of good cheer and not being afraid. In the middle of the storm you will always find Jesus Christ. Just like in the middle of the Oreo cookie is the frosting to make the cookie palatable; likewise, in the middle of the storm is Jesus Christ to keep the storm endurable. When you stay focused on Jesus Christ, you can be of good cheer and not be afraid.
Let me ask you, on what are you focused? Are you looking at the distasteful part of the storm and seeing what it is doing to you or are you looking at the frosting of the storm and seeing Jesus Christ? The only way you will keep your spirit right and not be afraid is to approach storms using the Oreo principle. Stay focused on the frosting and you will find that storms are actually for good.