Trust as the Tides Roll on
There’s something very special and awe-inspiring about a long walk, along a sandy, sparsely-occupied, stretch of oceanside beach. Perhaps it is witnessing the awesome power of the pounding breakers as they crash in,white upon themselves,only to melt back into the foaming receders as they approach the sand. Maybe it is knowing that the interaction of those waves with that beach’s sand simply reflects the infinite and invisible attributes, abilities, and authority of almighty God (Rom. 1:18-20; Jer. 5:22). After all, ever since the third day of creation (Gen. 1:9-13) God’s word has kept those mighty tides rolling regularly and rhythmically in and out, without the slightest interruption or hesitation, and despite whatever was going on in the world and lives of men (2 Ptr. 3:5).
God is in control, even the tides obey His will.
In addition to those thoughts however, one of the greatest and most comforting things that the sea brings to mind for me, is that no matter how fierce, furious, frightening and life-threatening a storm on it can be; and no matter how many lives it has claimed since its creation on day three; my God – it’s Creator – is infinitely mightier indeed; and therefore able to rescue, carry me through, and deliver me from any storm that I encounter in my life!
The Psalmists declare, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea” (93:4);and,“O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them” (89:8-9). David, himself, in Psalm 65:5-7 makes the point, that because God is able to calm the raging seas, He is therefore powerful enough to calm, carry, comfort, and completely deliver His people from all of their troubles as well. The author of the 107thPsalm reiterates and reinforces this same eternal truth when He states in verses 23-29:“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still.”
Then there was Job; a man who lost just about everything a man could ever lose except for his life, his wife, and his faith. Yet even he acknowledged the awesome power and ability of God to still preserve and rescue him from his circumstances when he stated of God that,“He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). Later on, God would again remind Job of His infinite ability to deliver, saying, “Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’” (Job 38:8-11).
Christian; remember your Savior today – no matter what storm you may be facing. Allow Him who both created and calmed the sea (Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17; Matt. 8:23-27, 14:22-23); He who both created you physically and then re-created you spiritually in Christ Jesus (Psa. 139:13-16; Eph 2:4-10), to calm your storm. “Peace, be still” (Mk. 4:39); “Be still, and know that [He is] God” (Ps. 46:10).
Brethren, Seas the day!