“And when he entered into a boat,
his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea,
insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves; but he was asleep. And his
disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us; we perish. And he
saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and
rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marveled,
saying, what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Matthew 8:23-27 KJV
I am certain
that, like me, there have been times in life when the stress of work, the stress
of trying to live a Christian life in an ever growing secular culture, and the
stress associated with making life altering decisions just might cause us to
think that waves are going to overcome us. It is at times like these that I
remember the verse of the Naval Hymn that goes like this:
O Christ! Whose voice the waters
heard
And hushed their raging at Thy
word,
Who walked'st on the foaming
deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst
sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to
Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
These are words of comfort to me, not just
the words of the hymn but the powerful words of Jesus – “Why are ye fearful, O
ye of little faith?” then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there
was a great calm.
Gracious God, help me to hear your voice in
both the storm and in the silence. In Christ Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
|
