Matthew 8:24-27 – Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (NIV)

By contrast, this afternoon, I was sitting watching a gentle breeze blow the leaves on a tree one way, then, without explanation, blow them another way, and then, unexpectedly, stop blowing them. I certainly can't explain why wind currents constantly change as they do.

With these gentle breezes, I felt perfectly safe and able to navigate through them. When the winds suddenly strengthen, however, it is not as easy.

I remembered being in St. Croix a few years ago, when we were warned that a hurricane was approaching. The US Air Force "Hurricane Hunters" left the island as they said that it was too dangerous to stay!

We were unable to leave in time.

At 6 a.m. the next day, the hurricane roared through, just missing the mainland, but sounding like a mighty freight train as it roared past. After it passed by, everything was extremely calm. In fact, our departure flight the next day was one of the smoothest that I have ever experienced.

As I thought about these inexplicable changes in wind currents, I thought how similar they are to life.

You may or may not have experienced a difficult time in a raging storm. But I am certain that you do experience sudden and unexplained changes in your life, even if you feel that you are able to navigate through them.

We each have two choices.

We can fight on, doing our best and responding in our own strength — or we can follow the direction set out in today's passage from Matthew 8. We can turn to the One Who controls all things, even the wind. It requires faith, sometimes great faith, but He never fails us.

I take great comfort in the words penned by Stanley Ditmer (1924-2003):

I shall not fear though darkened clouds may gather round me;
The God I serve is one who cares and understands;
Although the storms I face would threaten to confound me,
Of this I am assured: I'm in His hands.

I'm in His hands, I'm in His hands;
Whate'er the future holds, I'm in His hands;
The days I cannot see have all been planned for me;
His way is best, you see; I'm in His hands.

What though I cannot know the way that lies before me,
I still can trust and freely follow His commands;
My faith is firm since He it is who watches o'er me;
Of this I'm confident: I'm in His hands.

In days gone by my Lord has always proved sufficient,
When I have yielded to the law of love's demands;
Why should I doubt that He would evermore be present
To make His will my own? I'm in His hands!

Prayer: Dear God, help us to follow Your words in Isaiah 41:10 (NIV): "So do not fear, for I am with You; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Amen.

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About the author:

Vincent Walter <vwalter@bell.net>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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