Fear makes false assumptions.
Remember the night when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus during a major storm? Some of them were professional fishermen, accustomed to the challenges of the open water, yet they were all scared out of their minds. Finding Jesus asleep, they awoke him with these words: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38).
That’s what we do. When someone – even God – doesn’t respond to our crisis in the way we expect, we turn on them. We doubt their motives.
We have all asked God, “Don’t you care if I drown?” We are drowning in guilt or shame. Or in a sea of debt. Maybe an ocean of failure. The sharks are circling us. And Jesus is asleep in the boat.
Here’s the lesson. Never define God by what you can see in the moment. When you cannot see his hand, trust his heart.
Recovery Step: God cares. Never forget that.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
