Greetings from Israel, from the beautiful Sea of Galilee!
You know, here in Israel we are going through another challenging time. We just had elections, and there are many conversations about politics, about our government, and about what will happen next. Everywhere you go, people are talking about these things. And sometimes, with all the news, all the noise, and all the busyness of life, we need to find some quiet time with the Lord.
So this week, I came to the Sea of Galilee, to Capernaum, a very special place where Jesus lived and ministered during His earthly ministry. I came here just to pray, to take some time away from everything, and to be in the presence of God. And dear friends, standing here among these ancient ruins, looking at the Sea of Galilee, I experienced such wonderful shalom. All around us in Israel, there is so much noise and uncertainty, but here it is quiet. It is peaceful. And it reminds me that even in the middle of the storm, we can experience the peace of God.
You know, when I stand here beside the Sea of Galilee, I remember the story of Jesus and His disciples in Mark chapter 4. They were crossing the sea when suddenly a great storm came. The wind was blowing, the waves were coming into the boat, and the disciples were afraid. But Jesus was sleeping! Can you imagine? All around Him there was a storm, but He was resting in complete peace.
And when the disciples woke Him, Jesus stood up and spoke to the wind and the sea:
“Peace, be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:39 (KJV)
Wow! What a wonderful picture of the shalom of God. And you know, what really encourages me is that Jesus was already at peace before the storm became quiet. He was not afraid of the wind or the waves. He knew His Father, and He was resting in Him. And dear friends, this is something we need to remember in our own lives, especially when we are going through difficult times.
Maybe you are facing challenges in your family, problems with your health, financial difficulties, or something that is troubling your heart. Sometimes we don’t understand why these things happen, and we pray and pray, but the situation doesn’t change. Here in Israel, we also face many challenges, and sometimes it feels like one storm is followed by another. But I want to encourage you today. Our God is with us in the middle of these storms. His presence is not depending on what is happening around us, and His promises are not changing because our circumstances are difficult.
Jesus Himself told us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation, but we should be encouraged because He has overcome the world. And this is so important, dear friends. We cannot always control what is happening around us. We cannot control every problem, every decision of our leaders, or every difficulty that comes into our lives. But we can come into the presence of the Lord, we can pray, and we can trust Him. Because His Kingdom is greater than all these things.
As I stand here in Capernaum, I think about how Jesus walked in these places two thousand years ago. He taught the people, He healed the sick, and He proclaimed the Kingdom of God. So much has happened since then. Governments have changed, kingdoms have come and gone, and the world is very different today. But we are still walking in His light, still learning from His teachings, and still experiencing His shalom. Isn’t that wonderful?
The Bible says in Isaiah 26:3:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
And this is my encouragement to you today. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord. Of course, we care about what is happening in Israel and around the world. We pray for our governments, for our leaders, and for peace in our nations. But as believers, we are looking beyond all these things. We are looking for the Kingdom of God and His will. Because all the kingdoms of this world are temporary, but His Kingdom, His promises, and His covenant will remain forever.
And dear friends, maybe you cannot come to the Sea of Galilee today, but wherever you are, you can take some quiet time with the Lord. Sometimes we are so busy with life, with work, with our responsibilities, that we forget how important it is just to be in His presence. So I want to encourage you this Shabbat, take some time to pray. Open your Bible, spend time with God, and allow His Word to strengthen your heart. Even if the storm around you is still there, you can experience His shalom.
I also want to ask you to continue praying for Israel. We are living in challenging times, and our nation needs the wisdom and mercy of God. Pray for our leaders, pray for peace, and especially pray for the salvation of Israel, that more and more people will come to know Jesus, our Messiah, and experience His wonderful peace.
And now, dear friends, I want to pray for you:
Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray for every dear friend reading this message. Lord, You know their challenges, their difficulties, and the things that are troubling their hearts. I pray that Your shalom will come upon them, upon their families, and upon their homes. Let every heart that is worried find rest in Your presence. Give them strength to continue, faith to believe, and courage to face whatever is ahead. Lord, remind us that You are with us in every storm and that Your promises will never pass away.
In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
Dear friends, let us continue to praise the Lord, rejoice in His presence, and lift up our eyes to Him. Whatever challenges you are facing, remember that His Kingdom will remain forever, and His shalom is available to you today.
May the Lord bless you, strengthen you, and fill your life with His wonderful peace.
Shabbat Shalom from the Sea of Galilee!
With love and blessings from Israel,
Pastor Israel Pochtar