Trust Him to calm the storm 

In life, we face different kinds of storms each day. Sometimes, events in our lives feel like a horrendous storm about to break. Nothing seems to work and all our efforts prove futile. We feel like we’re trapped in a cage of nothingness and yet, we are unable to come out. The good news is, we have the Master over storms and ferocious situations as our Lord. He only comes when invited.

My first ever trip on the sea was an excursion on the sea with a very large ship. That was in 2002. The experience was just so great. We experienced slight turbulence while on sea and some of my friends got so sick on board. The next experience was about 2 years later in 2004 at the same port and in a similar ship. Again, the experience was both good and bad. Ten years later (2014), I traveled on sea from Norway to Denmark and from Denmark back to Norway. It was a huge ship and there were more than 400 students on board. To be frank, I enjoyed the scenery and the journey until we experienced turbulence at night. Oh my! It was not a pleasant experience at all. I wondered how seafarers and fishermen survive in deep waters. They certainly deserve to be recognized. At one point myself and my roommates were all scared as the ship tilted sideways. Anyway, we made it and apparently that is normal to traveling on sea. Ah well, I hope to try again!

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. (Matthew 8:26)

If my experience on a big vessel was unpleasant, imagine fishing with a boat in the  1st Century and experiencing turbulence. In Matthew 8:23-26 (also recorded in Mark and Luke’s gospel), Jesus “got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly 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.” How could Jesus sleep on a cushion (according to Mark’s account) in that furious storm? The peace He had and the assurance that He would arrive at the other end was amazing. The disciples thought they would drown. How could they not have known? They were in the same boat with Jesus and still were scared for their lives. Thankfully, the winds and the waves heard the voice of the Lord and calmed down. 

I would have been flabbergasted! Imagine someone commanding the winds and the waves to calm down during my return trip from Denmark to Norway. The disciples were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27). In life, we face different kinds of storms each day. Sometimes, events in our lives feel like a horrendous storm about to break. Nothing seems to work and all our efforts prove futile. We feel like we’re trapped in a cage of nothingness and yet, we are unable to come out. The good news is, we have the Master over storms and ferocious situations as our Lord. He only comes when invited. Remember, He was sleeping when the tempest was roaring. He stilled the waves and the winds only when He was called. If you have not called Him yet, it is not too late. He is ready to come and calm every storm that is giving your life instability and tossing you back and forth. By His words, the storm will be stilled. Mark’s account (Mark 4:39) states that, “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” What manner of man commands the winds and the waves? Invite Him today and let him bring stillness to your raging storms. Trust in the Lord!

He refreshes my soul

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Have you ever been so tired, weary and stressed that you felt that only a rejuvenation could restore you? There are days I feel so stressed out that the only thing that satisfies is a divine quickening. Psalm 23 is a famous passage about the shepherding love of God. In this passage, God is the Shepherd and we are the sheep. The Shepherd tenders the flock in so much love and compassion. The passage begins with: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalms 23:1). The great Shepherd leads the sheep into fruitfulness and abundance: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” (Psalms 23:2). Sheep are just unpredictable, they so easily take their own course, leave the Shepherd, manage to get entangled in thickets and thorns and sometimes get lost by leaving the flock.

He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. (Psalms 23:3)

This is a perfect depiction of human nature. We are just unpredictable and this is mainly caused by both internal and external pressures. These pressures can cause us to leave the Shepherd and run our own course: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). As a result of going astray, humanity has to deal with weariness, stress, frustration and sometimes depression. But all hope is not lost because the Lord restores or refreshes our souls. Psalm 23:3 (KJV) states that, “He restoreth my soul.” Other versions use ” He refreshes my soul.” In this verse soul is used to refer to life or spirit. Thus, the Lord gives me life again, He makes me live. When we are exhausted by the pressures of life, the Lord restores us and gives us inner strength to go on. The Lord takes away our burdens and gives us peace. Our souls are refreshed. 

The Lord refreshes us by taking our weariness and giving us His rest. He then guides us along the right paths for his name’s sake (Psalms 23:3b). The paths of righteousness are full of God’s grace and providence. On the right paths, we can sing that: “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come. Let this blest assurance control. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate. And has shed His own blood for my soul. It is well. With my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.”

It can only be well with us even in the darkest valleys when the Lord restores our souls. He is our peace even in the storm and the troubles of life. No wonder Jesus could still sleep when the waves were raging and the disciples were stressed out trying to save their lives (Matthew 8:23–27, Mark 4:35–41, Luke 8:22–25). Jesus as the Shepherd restored  calmness and gave the disciples peace. Why don’t we take our fears, exhaustion, weariness and brokenness to Him. He will refresh us and lead us into the right paths.

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