Getting Stronger

          Jenna’s phone buzzed on the nightstand. She reached over and glanced at the incoming text.

            Missed you at work today. Hope you’re OK.

            Jenna smiled in spite of her pounding head. Shannon was such a sweetheart. How nice to know she was missed.

            Depends how you define OK. I have the flu.

            Oh, no! Are you up for a call if I don’t put on the video?

            Sure.

            Her phone vibrated and Shannon’s picture lit up the screen. She accepted the call, put it on speaker, and leaned back against her pillow.

            Shannon’s perky voice filled the room. “I’m so sorry you’re sick. What can I do? Should I bring chicken soup? Or help with anything at work?”

            “You’re so sweet. I don’t need anything. I had soup delivered, I have a full box of tissues by the bed, and plenty of chocolate for when I feel sorry for myself. And there’s nothing at work that can’t wait until next week.”

            “If you’re sure. Hope you’re not too uncomfortable. At least this will make you stronger.”

            Jenna blinked. “What do you mean? I’m definitely not feeling strong.”

            “When you get sick, it helps your immune system. Fighting these germs will make you healthier in the long run.”
            “If you say so. Only you could find the bright side of the flu.”

            “It’s just like trials.”

            Jenna rolled her neck. “Like what?” Shannon meant well, but sometimes she made no sense. 

           “In the Bible. When we go through trials, it makes us better people.”

           Jenna fluffed the pillow and sat up straighter. “Now I really need you to explain. I thought if we did what God wanted us to do, things would be easier.”

           Shannon was silent for a minute. “Some things are easier. That’s true. But God lets bad things happen sometimes because we’re better people because of it. When I lost my job the first time, I was devastated. My whole world was rocked. But the next time it happened, I trusted God. I knew He was in control. And because of that, I was able to help out my other coworkers who were also laid off.”

            Jenna sipped from her cup of juice. “Wow, Shannon, that’s pretty deep. But I guess it makes sense. I never thought I’d learn more about the Bible by being sick.”

            “You can always learn more about the Bible. In fact, you have some extra time right now while you’re out of work. Maybe God wants you to spend more time reading it.”

            “Maybe. Thanks, Shannon, but I think I’m going to rest for a while.”

            “Text me if you need anything.”

             Jenna set the phone back on her nightstand. Shannon’s words rattled around in her head. If this flu actually made her stronger, maybe it would be worth it. But for now, all it seemed to be was an inconvenience. Still, Shannon had a point. When was the last time she’d simply sat and read the Bible. Maybe she would. But first, a nap.

            Jenna awoke an hour later after a fitful dream about a boat in a storm. Her pajamas were drenched in sweat. Maybe her fever had broken. What a weird dream. Something about it niggled at her memory. Was that a Bible story? She grabbed her phone and looked it up. Sure enough, it was. All Shannon’s talk about reading the Bible had worked its way into her dreams. She dragged herself out of bed and pulled her Bible from the bookshelf. She brought it back to the bed and read through two separate accounts in the book of Matthew. In the first story, the disciples were in the midst of a storm while Jesus slept. When Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples asked “What kind of man is this? Even the wind and waves obey him.”

             She skipped ahead to chapter 14. Once again, the disciples were out on the lake in a storm But this time, Jesus walked on water to get to them. When Jesus got in the boat, again, He calmed the wind and the waves. But this time, the disciples reacted differently. They were still terrified. They still thought they would drown. But this time, when Jesus stopped the wind and waves, they worshipped Jesus and said “Truly you are the Son of God.”

             Jenna put down the Bible. It was just like Shannon said. The first trial confused the disciples, but the second time, they recognized Jesus for Who He was. Whether or not her immune system got stronger through this virus, one thing was for certain. From now on, when she was in the midst of a trial, she would do her very best to learn from it. But for now, she’d settle for some chicken soup.

Matthew 8: 24-27

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

God, as hard as it is to say, thank you for trials. You can use the difficulties in our lives to make us stronger. Sometimes we go through them to build our character, sometimes it is to be able to have compassion on others, and sometimes it is so we can understand Your character better. Regardless of how You use them, thank You so much that our pain is never wasted. Thank you for using the difficult things in life for our good. Please help us get through the trials with our eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.