It is instructive to observe that while Jesus and His disciples sailed on the sea, they faced a storm, and were soon in jeopardy because the waters got into the ship. They were in jeopardy because something which should be in the sea came into their ship; something that should be around their ship got into their ship and it became a problem; something that should remain on the outside came inside and it became a threat to them.
Friend, whatever happens around you, do not let it take center stage within you. Do not let the pain of what is happening around you to infiltrate your inner man; do not allow the disappointments and disaffections that happen around you to find space within you; don’t allow events around you to fill your inner man with bitterness; don’t let anything around you to depress you; don’t allow your negative experiences to live inside of you; don’t give space for negativity within you.
The sea was not much of a challenge when the water remained on the outside; but it became a challenge when the water came into the ship. Whatever happens around you may not affect you much if you do not allow it to dominate your thoughts and fill your mind; whatever negativity you may have come across may not affect you except you allow it some space within you; the circumstances you live in may not be lethal until you allow same circumstances to live inside of you.
Guard your inner man jealously; do not allow anyone drag you into the journey of bitterness; do not allow anyone to teach you unforgiveness; do not allow anyone to drive you into a rage; do not let anyone cause you to lose sight of who you are and who God has made you; do not allow your faith and confidence in God to take a hit because of what happened to you; do not allow your self esteem to go down because of mere external events.
Shut the negative waters out of your ship, and you will not need to sink. Shut out negativity from within you, and you won’t lose your place.
