I hear the Lord asking, “Don’t you see My greatness? Don’t you hear My roar?”
In the natural, I am sitting on a ship watching the water go past. As I sit here, I am reminded of Jesus on the boat with His disciples.
“That same day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.’ Leaving the crowd behind, the disciples got into the boat in which Jesus was already sitting, and they took him with them. Other boats sailed with them. Suddenly, as they were crossing the lake, a ferocious storm arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was all but swamped. But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake, saying, ‘Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!’ Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, ‘Hush! Be still!’ All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm.
“Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?’ But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, ‘Who is this man who has such authority that even the wind and waves obey him?'” (Mark 4:35-41, TPT).
How Am I Hearing?
Verse 35 states that Jesus told the disciples they were going to cross over to the other side of the lake. If His disciples had really “heard” Him, it should have been enough to strengthen them as the storm rose around them. Instead, fear crept in. They still did not know who Jesus really was. Don’t we do the same thing? At times, the Lord will speak but we really do not “hear or understand” what He is saying.
God is asking each one of us, “Do you see My greatness?” Many have fixed their eyes and thoughts on the storm and our current reality. However, the invitation is to take our eyes off the storm and adopt His current reality, which is faithfulness and provision and peace amid the storm.
How Am I Sleeping?
Jesus slept in the storm. I’ve heard it said that you have authority over any storm you can sleep through.
Someone, at this moment, believes he or she is sleeping. However, it is a sleep that comes from escape, hopelessness and depression. I see Jesus standing right beside you with an invitation to allow Him to wrap His arms around you. As you are wrapped in His arms, you begin to absorb His peace and you start to walk in the reality of His faithfulness and provision. I hear Him saying, “My peace is contagious! You were not created to walk in hopelessness and depression. Instead, you are created to share My peace with others. Receive and share as you remain close to Me.”
Others are busy striving. Like the disciples, you are doing everything you know to do to get through the storm. Business is not necessarily a bad thing but there is a better way. Jesus did not challenge the disciples about their hard work. He challenges them about their belief system and focus.
Again, the Lord is asking us the same question, “Do you see My greatness? It is only through seeing My greatness that you can see the true size of the storm. Understanding the storm from My perspective will give you wisdom and understanding to combat the storm.” The disciples reacted out of fear because they did not understand who was with them. That storm needed the voice and authority of the Creator of the Universe to bring about peace amid the chaos.
Do You Hear My Roar?
The second question the Lord asked is, “Do you hear My roar?” A roar sounds different when we are in a state of peace than when we are in chaos. The roar is more likely to bring fear and confusion when our minds, focuses and actions are already scattered. However, when we are focused on Jesus, walking close to Him, we hear the roar of the Lion of Judah and now, instead of fear, we can look with anticipation and expectation. As we wait and hope with anticipation, God will bring things that would otherwise be missed into our hearts and minds. Heavenly ideas are often revealed and received when we are positioned in a place of peace, even during a storm.
The roar has already been released. Just as sound travels, His roar travels. You may not hear it at this moment but that does not mean the Lion of Judah has not roared. I hear the Lord saying, “Live in peaceful expectation, no matter what your current situation is. Allow My peace to surround you like an ocean and listen for My roar.”
Beloved, if you have been living in a place of chaos and confusion, if the waves have been crashing around you, then it is the time to ask the Lord to shift your vision and hearing. Now is the time to align with heaven, speak to that storm and command it to be still. The storm is not to control your atmosphere. Your atmosphere is to be the atmosphere of heaven! {eoa}
Ruth Hendrickson is an ordained pastor, itinerant speaker, ministry trainer and board-certified Biblical counselor who has extensive experience in the development, training and oversight of emotional healing ministry teams, recovery ministries, prophetic ministry, prayer ministries and women’s ministry. In addition, she is a course facilitator for Patricia King Institute and Charisma courses. She writes for Elijah List and Charisma and has a podcast titled “Real Truth with Ruth.” Through biblically based teachings and practical applications infused with love and laughter, her goal is to introduce people not only to the living God who saves but also to the God who desires an intimate relationship with each one of us. Her latest book, Everyday Prophetic, will help you find the prophetic voice that God has given you. Ruth is an avid, unsweetened iced tea drinker who loves warm weather, palm trees and beaches! She believes that she should live in the South. However, in the meantime, Ruth and her husband Mark reside in Stockton, New Jersey. You can learn more about Ruth by visiting her on Facebook, YouTube and her own website, ruthhendrickson.org.
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Stephen Strang 
Charisma Media Staff 
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