Day 5: God rules over the surging sea
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping (Matthew 8:24).
Exalted God, Lord of all creation, Ruler over all nature, the psalmist exclaimed, Who is like You, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them. The heavens are Yours, and Yours also the earth; You founded the world and all that is in it (Psalm 89:8-9,11).
Centuries later, the disciples marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:27 - NKJV). They had not grasped the full reality of who You are, when in the middle of a furious storm, they cried out in fear, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (Matthew 8:25).
They had spent considerable time in Your presence, had experienced Your lovingkindness, had seen Your miracles, had witnessed Your authority. But they had not yet comprehended what it meant that You were Son of Man, Son of God.
Often, we too, Lord, do not fully grasp what it means that You are God. We experience Your unfailing love, Your extraordinary blessings, Your countless miracles. We receive from You sustenance, provision, protection, deliverance. We witness Your might, Your majesty, Your authority in the wonder of creation, in the order of Your laws, in the power of Your word.
Yet in the midst of the storm we find that we are of little faith— terrified that we will drown, terrified that You are asleep. But in the storm we discover that You are at the helm, that You watch over Your people and that You neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4).
Lord our God, teach us to know You. Ground us in Your truth, so that when we go through the storm— when we cry out in despair, "The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves," You would speak Your calm reassurance into our spirits, "Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty" (Psalm 93:3-4).
Lord Jesus, it is so easy to be alarmed by the constant noise of storm. All around we see the winds of war, the waves of conflict, the swells of chaos, the breakers of turmoil. Remind us that the winds and the waves [still] obey You (Matthew 8:27).
Help us to hear Your commanding "Peace, be still!" over the din and the roar (Mark 4:39). Remind us that it is You who fix limits and set doors and bars in place; it is You who say, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’ (Job 38:10-11); it is You who still the storm to a whisper and hush the waves of the sea (Psalm 107:29).
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