I love the ocean, the vastness of its depth against the vastness of the sky above it. With the two next to each other in my peripheral, it is hard not to think about just how small I am and just how big God is. And with oceans, it seems the opportunities for literature comparisons and metaphors are simply endless.
Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters.
They have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.
For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths; Their soul melted away in their misery.
They reeled and staggered like a drunken man and were at their wits' end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad because they were quiet, so He guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men!
Psalm 107:25-31
What I find most interesting in this passage is the fact that God is the one who created the storm. He is the one who lifted the waves high above their heads causing them to lose their wits. As I meditate on these words, I grow in my understanding that God allows the storms and, sometimes, creates them. Because while I fully believe in the weight of sin and its effects on this world and the fact that we face spiritual storms and battles more than anything (Ephesians 6:12), I also believe that God is in control.
So, why would He put us in the midst of these storms? As an opportunity to cry out to God and experience His deliverance. As soon as the people on the ship cried out to God, He saved them: attending to their distresses, subduing the storm, bringing them to safety.
So, why would He put us in the midst of these storms? As an opportunity to cry out to God and experience His deliverance. As soon as the people on the ship cried out to God, He saved them: attending to their distresses, subduing the storm, bringing them to safety.
Storms are opportunities to grow in faith and draw nearer to God. After all, He calls for our reliance, our trust to be in Him alone (Proverbs 3:5-6), and what sweeter thing than to constantly be crying out to our maker. My hope is that not a day goes by that I don't cry out to the Lord: for His help, guidance, comfort, peace, wisdom, strength, grace, mercy, and love. Those things which He will not withhold if I would just simply cry out. Those things I know I need in order to face each day and do what I have been called to do. What's more, while I believe that we are saved eternally from our sin when we accept and believe the truth of Jesus and consequently follow Him, I also believe that God continues to save us throughout our lives from trials and from ourselves. This might mean He calms the storm, but it could also mean that He empowers us by His Spirit to bear the storm. The point is, He is in control of the storm, and He knows the purpose for which the storm exists. It could be to teach something, or it could be to simply draw us away from ourselves and to Him.
Living in a foreign country has brought me to many moments of utter desperation for God, where I am at my wit's end crying out His name. It truly has become a day by day of wavering emotions and learning experiences. While we do have many good days and we truly have made some great friends, we also carry the constant weight of trying to communicate in another language whilst breaking cultural barriers, missing and missing out on the lives of family and friends back home, and fleeting moments of nostalgia for certain aspects of the way our life used to be. We have encountered some painful trials, and not only that, but when we encounter the smaller trials of everyday life, it can often be as if we look at them through a telescope. The things that seem so small appear much larger because of the difficulties aforementioned.
But I have said it before, and I will say it now. I don't blame God. Everything I have is from Him, and everything I go through is an opportunity to cry out to Him, trust Him more, experience His deliverance, and ultimately, grow closer to Him. He knows what I need, and He knows just how high to make the waves. When all is said and done, I love my job. I am here to tell people about this God. Not a hateful god who makes us suffer and doesn't care about our pain, but the God who has been here, suffered with us, and lovingly brings us to and through trials in this sinful world. Because, Christ follower or not, we all go through trials, and we all suffer, but we don't have to do it alone and without purpose.
Beyond everything, I love that God continues to remind me that I am weak and He is strong. It sounds crazy, but I thank Him for the storms. Like the Psalmist exclaims, I give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and for His wonders to the sons of men. I give thanks to the Lord for controlling and helping me through the storms which I encounter.
Living in a foreign country has brought me to many moments of utter desperation for God, where I am at my wit's end crying out His name. It truly has become a day by day of wavering emotions and learning experiences. While we do have many good days and we truly have made some great friends, we also carry the constant weight of trying to communicate in another language whilst breaking cultural barriers, missing and missing out on the lives of family and friends back home, and fleeting moments of nostalgia for certain aspects of the way our life used to be. We have encountered some painful trials, and not only that, but when we encounter the smaller trials of everyday life, it can often be as if we look at them through a telescope. The things that seem so small appear much larger because of the difficulties aforementioned.
But I have said it before, and I will say it now. I don't blame God. Everything I have is from Him, and everything I go through is an opportunity to cry out to Him, trust Him more, experience His deliverance, and ultimately, grow closer to Him. He knows what I need, and He knows just how high to make the waves. When all is said and done, I love my job. I am here to tell people about this God. Not a hateful god who makes us suffer and doesn't care about our pain, but the God who has been here, suffered with us, and lovingly brings us to and through trials in this sinful world. Because, Christ follower or not, we all go through trials, and we all suffer, but we don't have to do it alone and without purpose.
Beyond everything, I love that God continues to remind me that I am weak and He is strong. It sounds crazy, but I thank Him for the storms. Like the Psalmist exclaims, I give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness and for His wonders to the sons of men. I give thanks to the Lord for controlling and helping me through the storms which I encounter.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1: 2-3
