"Quarantine-cation" Reflections

Ever said the phrase, “I need a vacation from my vacation”? Going on vacation can be hard work, especially with young kids, so when I started at GBC, I tried something new-  a two week vacation!

As we all know, 2020 has been a trying year to say the least, so come July, I was more than ready for a break and needed to rest. We decided as a family to do a two week “quarantine-cation” to “keep it simple”, but as you could guess, that had it’s challenges too. It didn’t take long for me to grow frustrated and very self-centered as my expectations for rest weren’t being met.

After I got back, the Lord revealed in His Word to me something I wished I saw before I left. In Mark 6, we see Jesus sending his twelve apostles, with authority, on an exciting, new ministry journey (vv 7-13). After they returned, they were tired and hungry so Jesus sent them away to rest (vv 30-31). But as they were leaving, their plans changed as many came to see Jesus, who had compassion on them (v 34).

Now, putting myself in the apostles shoes, I’m sure they were disappointed to have their expectations of rest not met, but Jesus had bigger plans-  He performs one of His most magnificent miracles-  He feeds more than 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish!

Afterwards, the disciples try again to find rest, but were immediately interrupted by a violent storm at sea. I’m sure their frustration was REALLY rising! Despite their doubt and fear, Jesus performs possibly His most famous miracle- he walks on turbulent waters, gets into their boat, and He calms the storm (vv. 45-52).

I was immediately convicted-  am I being so self-centered and inconvenienced while trying to find rest, that I could be blinded to the great things that God is doing all around me? Could God be using these trials to show me something miraculous, but I could be missing it? Am I trusting Jesus that He will get into the “boat” of my life and calm my storms? I haven’t been and I need to more.

As we set sail on a new journey this fall full of unknowns and potential storms, ask Jesus to come into your boat and journey with you. “Do not fear, only believe.” Mark 5:36b