by Sola Alao-Chukwura
Recently, I listened to my children (4 years and 3 years) singing, ‘Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile don’t forget to shout for HELP!’ As they sang the song over and over again, I realised that the song aptly mirrors what many of us experience daily in life and our reactions to these experiences.
Of course, you will agree with me that life can be likened to a river. One minute it is turbulent, the next, it is calm. Life is full of a myriad of experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly). For instance, you have moments when everything just seems to fall in place for you. You are happy at home (no domestic staff issues) and at work (you see the impact your daily work deliverables is adding to the company’s bottom line). Indeed, you are happy with the world and the world is happy with you.
On this journey, you also meet all sorts of creatures in the river. Some animals like frogs, are harmless and when you see them, you just want to jump up and down in delight like a little child. Some dangerous ones like crocodiles and sharks are terrifying and will send shivers down your spine. The question is, “what do you do when you are faced with the sharks and crocodiles on life’s stormy journey? Before you go off and tell me that your life’s journey “will not be stormy in Jesus Mighty Name”, let’s take a trip into the Book of Mark. In chapter 4:35-41, it’s recorded that Jesus took a boat trip with the disciples and while in the boat, Jesus fell asleep. A furious storm began and the disciples trembled with fear. They did all they could to stop the boat from capsizing…except call on Jesus, who had slept through their ordeal. Eventually, they realised that they had Jesus in the boat with them. Hurriedly, they woke him up. However, like most of us do when faced with such life situations, their cry had a hint of petulant rebuke “Carest thou not that we perish?” they asked Jesus.
The fact is this; they had Jesus in their boat. However, when the storms came, they thought they could fight it by themselves…they forgot about the Master of Storms, the prince of Peace, Emmanuel…sleeping in their boat. They did not ask Him for help! When faced with life challenges, many of us forget the basic truth that “God is with us”. We forget to ask Him for help. Until you do, He will not step in…remember, He stands at the door and He knocks, He only comes in when He’s been asked to. In life, storms will surely come and many times, you may forget who you are and whose you are. One key that determines whether the storms overwhelm you or obey you is this – the one you have in your boat. I ask Him for help daily.
Won’t you ask Him today?