“Why Do You Sleep, O Lord?”

Day 11

Psalm 44:23 – “Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arouse Yourself, cast us not off forever!”

Matthew 8:24, 25 – “And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping. And they went and awakened Him, saying, Lord, rescue and preserve us! We are perishing!”

Mark 4:38 – “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?'”

Psalm 78:65 – “Then the Lord awakened as from sleep, as a strong man whose consciousness of power is heightened by wine.”

We might come to a point in our walk with God where we feel like saying, “God, why aren’t you intervening in this craziness? Why are you sleeping? Don’t you care about us?”

God’s reply might sound something like this, “Why aren’t you gathering strength in My presence like I told you? Where on earth do you think your strength comes from? Nowhere on earth! It comes from resting in My presence! You think you need to struggle at a time when you really need to stop, and you grow lax at a time when you need to pursue Me deeper. Nothing earthly can give you the strength you need for your life. Only My presence can strengthen you. Only My right hand can uphold you! Come to Me and I will give you rest.”

Even David didn’t have the strength within himself to solve his problem in 1 Samuel 30. Raiders had taken all he had, including his family! David and his men wept aloud “until they had no strength left to weep.” Then David’s men started to grow bitter against him, blaming him for what happened and considering killing him. It wasn’t pretty. But David’s reaction was suddenly different: he turned his heart toward God and the Word says he “found strength in the Lord.” Realizing he had nowhere else to turn, David decided to remember what God had done for him and lean on Him for the strength he needed. David gave his heavy burden to God and in exchange received something that wasn’t a burden at all, but a blessing!

React…to what God has done.

Sometimes, the hardest thing for us to do is divert ourselves from our initial reaction in the flesh, but that is our “burden.” If we just react in our flesh and don’t hold it back, we will be crushed by an even greater burden. If we do hold it back, we leave the door open for God to move. Don’t allow yourself to just react to the situations around you like everyone else! React instead to what God has done. React to His love and His goodness to you. React to Who He is and all that He’s poured into your life. You don’t have to take control of the situation, because the Lord is not sleeping. He’s right by your side, eager to step in, hoping you’ll allow Him to do so.

Pursue your purpose in Him,

Anthony B.

Harvest Church