How do we discern God’s will and call in the midst of life’s storms?
Marlena Graves remembers hearing the passage in Mark 4-the one where Jesus calms the sea-in a whole new way. She recalls, "I was not one of the terrified disciples lacking faith, wondering if I was going to drown and miffed at Jesus for remaining asleep and undisturbed by the perilous storm. . . . I was the little fishing boat carrying Jesus in the storm. A tiny vessel in an uproarious storm on the great Sea of Galilee!"
As believers, we are all little vessels carrying Jesus. Our lives, the boats in which we carry Christ and his gospel, will venture out to sea. Storms will come, often when we least expect them. How will we respond? And people will come to us seeking refuge. How will we respond to them?
Brimming with keen theological insight and personal stories and speaking with a voice for the marginalized, Graves helps us navigate life’s storms and discern when to seek a safe harbor-and ultimately, when to head back out to sea. (After all, boats weren’t made to remain in the harbor.) Bearing God is an ideal resource for churches, groups, and personal reflection.
Imagine yourself with Jesus, in a boat on the sea, as a sudden storm fills the other passengers with fear.When the priest read this Gospel story in Mark 4, Marlena Graves didn’t see herself as the terrified disciples, lacking faith. She wasn’t Jesus, peacefully sleeping through the danger. She wasn’t the wind or the waves. According to Graves, "I was the boat! And then it occurred to me that, like Jesus’ mother, Mary, I, too, am a God bearer."
Journey with Graves and discover these things:
- We are all vessels that carry Jesus as we journey throughout our lives.
- Boats are made for the water-they have a mission-and that mission always involves others.
- Jesus is not disturbed by any storms (or our reactions to them).
- Our lives, which carry Christ and the gospel, are to bring salvation to others, especially those who have been thrown overboard in life.
- There is a destination-life with God-at the heart of spiritual formation. As we bear God and go out to sea, God is also bearing us into oneness with him.
Bearing God is a short and enthralling read that will awaken you as a disciple of Jesus to a sense of adventure in your calling. Using the metaphor of Christians as vessels for Christ, Bearing God is packed with inspirational lessons and principles to help readers grow in their spirituality. An ideal discipleship resource for churches, small groups, and personal devotion.
