On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself 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?" And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. Mark 4:35-39 When the Bible says things are going to be better at the end than at the beginning, we can bet on it, because God causes us to go from glory to glory (Ecclesiastes 7:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18). God said He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17), and we know the Church is thriving on the earth right now. We are part of something that is absolutely secure and strong, and we're serving Someone who is the Master over every storm.

As believers, we know that, no matter what the circumstance, things are going to get better. At the same time, we realize that life is not a bed of roses. We are realistically optimistic about our walk with God.

When I got saved, I didn't feel anything different. Two weeks later, I had an encounter with God where I sensed His presence for the first time in my life. I told some people about it at the church where I was going, and a girl who had been a Christian for a while said, "It's really good you feel God's presence, but don't base your walk with God on that, because it will come and go. But, the facts of God's Word are permanently true (Psalm 119:89). And you can bet on that and you can bank your life on that." That was one of the greatest little pearls I ever got. Instead of putting out my fire, that little passing moment at a church service has helped me. When the ups and downs and storms of life come, isn't it wonderful to know with assurance that God has better days up ahead? We are getting to the other side, and that is not based on how we feel.

And they came over unto the other side... Mark 5:1a KJV
Press on!
Pastor Jeff


© 2007 St. Louis Family Church. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.