Ripples in Effect

I am confident that you've been told before that your actions affect others. Dominoes. Ripples in a pond. The butterfly effect. But do we realize just how much it is true? Goodness spreads, and so does trouble. We sometimes agree to partner with it, meaning to pay it forward. Sometimes we fall into it, not knowing that we are getting caught up in strife or confusion. Sometimes we help others win their battles. Sometimes we share in their peace.

Let's look at some Biblical examples of this. First, consider Jonah. Instead of traveling to Nineveh, where God had directed him to go, Jonah decided to go to Tarshish. He hopped a boat and headed in the opposite direction of Nineveh, possibly thinking he could hide from God. Because of his disobedience, God sent a storm to batter the boat he was hiding on. Imagine. The vessel was rocked as it climbed waves and plummeted down the other side. Water probably crashed on the deck, nearly washing some of the crew out to sea. The Bible says they thought the boat would break apart. The crew threw over their cargo in hopes of keeping the ship from being flooded, and they prayed to their gods but got no relief. You know how this part of the story ends. Jonah finally had to convince them that the only way to stop the storm was to throw him overboard. When they did, the storm quieted. And Jonah boarded a different type of vessel for the next three days.

Jonah was the one who disobeyed God. But those around him suffered for it, too.

Speaking of storms, here is a happier New Testament example. In Mark 4, a terrible storm arose as Jesus and the disciples were crossing the sea. The petrified disciples woke Jesus, who told the storm to be still. The Bible says that the sea was immediately quiet. That is an amazing story on its own with plenty of teachable lessons. But, there was more than one boat on the water (verse 36). And, while those on the boat with Jesus knew He had calmed the storm, the others didn't. Certainly, during the storm, the men in the other boats were not any less afraid. Were they praying for God to still the storm? Did they find out later that the disciples had asked Jesus to intervene? Probably. But at the time that the storm suddenly ceased, they didn't know what had happened. They didn't know that Jesus had calmed the storm for them as well as for those on His boat.

Jesus granted the request of those on his boat, and those around them also received a blessing.

Here is one last example. When Jesus was raised from the dead, others were raised, as well. "The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people." (Matthew 27:52,53) These people were not the ones targeted for resurrection. That was, of course, Jesus. However, others were raised from the dead at the time Jesus was. They were once again filled with life, and they went into the city, probably looking for family and friends. They had a second chance not because of something they did but because of Jesus. Isn't that wonderful for us all?

The power of the Holy Spirit is so strong that there was overflow when He moved.

You may not think of yourself as being in situations where you tell the wind to be still or the dead to be raised, but let's look from another perspective. If you have friends or family who are in a personal storm, you can calm that one friend, potentially quieting the whole situation. A word of encouragement can lift spirits, and blessings can be shared. Finally, your walk with the Holy Spirit can overflow your life, ministering to others in miraculous ways.

I pray that you don't see yourself as insignificant. You certainly are not. Let God work through you. Throw some of God's love out there and watch for ripples!