“oh, when we are rocked upon the waves of life, when the night grows dark and hope grows dim, you and I can listen to a sweeter voice, we can hear Jesus saying, “whatever comes, be of good cheer, I will be with you to the end of the way!” Thank God for such a Saviour!’ – W.Ford-
‘even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.’
-Isaiah 46.3-4-
‘But i trust in you, O LORD;
i say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hand;
-Psalm 31.15-
when the tide is smooth in life, it is easy to say ‘I trust in You God.’
and we mean in. even think we mean it down to the depths of our heart.
but then we forget.
the storm starts brewing… the winds begin to gust.
slowing… or sometimes they come like a tornado. out of nowhere.
and then we are in the midst of the storm.
and we find our boots a shaking.
trembling.
fear crippling.
and i cry out to the Lord. so many emotions.
fear. yet knowing i should trust. and then questions about why?
‘how long, O LORD? will you forget me forever?
how long will you hide your face from me?
how long must i take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
how long shall my enemy be exalted over me?’
-Psalm 13.1-2-
see the storms can come in a variety of ways.
illness, tragedy, depression or pits of despair, wounds from others by words or abuse,
financial ruin, and the list can go on.
these are the things in life that rock our boat.
whether small or large… they can show where our trust really is.
so where is my trust?
where is my hope when life grows dim?
who do i call out to rescue and save me when the waves are crashing around me?
do i try to save myself? or do i give up hope?
No.
it may be dark. whether because of the storm or because the night in near and despair seems to block out the light.
i will choose today.
to cry out to the Lord.
confess and repent of my unbelief and fear.
‘be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me.
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings i will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!’
-Psalm 57.1-2,7-
oh the only thing i can hope in and always trust in is the LORD.
only He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
it may be still now, and by evening the course of my life could change.
i could live in fear. but that only steals joy and energy that i could use to worship the LORD.
or i could live trusting, waiting, hoping, and worshipping the LORD.
knowing He will hold me. whether the diagnosis is good or bad.
whether the day is filled with the sun and blessings or is cloudy and filled with raindrops alongside my heavy tears. i will worship.
i will worship the LORD.
because He is for me. not against me.
it may hurt. i may never see the good in the pain.
i may never understand the unanswered prayers.
but i will trust.
i will trust that my God loves me and has Saved me and will therefore never leave me. i will always be held by Him.
from this day forth, my may life be lived to glorify Him alone.
to sing praises and consider it joy when the trials come.
remembering trials bring forth perseverance and hope.
it is refining fire.
molding and chipping away.. to make me more like Him.
to reflect Him to be an imitator of Christ.
(Isaiah 30)
Oh LORD,
i know i am weak in the flesh and will fail. i cannot rely on my own efforts.
it is only by Your Spirit that i can find peace and rest for my soul.
Fill me. Reign in my heart.
Your will be done. I surrender.
my life is not my own. i have been bought with a price,
the precious blood of Christ. so i will not live for me.
it never was and it never will be about me.
it is all for You. all for Your glory.
not to us, not to us Lord.
to You be the glory.
‘I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
for your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
Be exalted, O GOD, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!’
Psalm 57.9-11
