When the Waves Roll

Life's tempestuous sea is playing havoc with my emotions as of late.  The last couple weeks have been a challenge to keep myself in check. In my life-long quest to learn to "dance in the rain," I am having trouble keeping myself on an even keel these days. Such a struggle.

I was led back to a verse in Jeremiah this morning that I had marked back in 2008.  

"If you return and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile, cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God's faithfulness, you shall be My mouthpiece." (Jeremiah 15:19)

When the life's waves are raging, the distrust and despair over whether God is aware that your boat is taking on water overwhelms you...am I right?  I highlighted this verse four years ago and here I am still having to have the Lord remind me of my weak faith and strong distrust.

Reading this verse this morning brought to mind Paul's words to the Romans and Philippians about rejoicing in all things.

"Let us be full of joy now!  Let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patience and unswerving endurance."
(Romans 5:3-4)

"Rejoice in the Lord always (delight, gladden yourselves in Him); again I say, Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4)

Oh to be consistently strong when the sea billows roll, confident in the Lord's care and concern over my struggles and challenges!

Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rocks and treacherous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild.
Raging waves obey Thy will,
When Thou say'st to them: Be still.
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest,
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me:
Fear not, I will pilot thee.

Edward Hopper

When Nothing Happens

There once was a girl who was weary.  She was traveling a definite path.  It was headed in a certain direction. However, where once she traveled with confidence and determination, now she felt nothing but hesitation and uncertainty.  Feeling quite overwhelmed and exhausted, she stopped her journey and sat down.

Today, she couldn't bring herself to keep moving.

She was barely hanging on to what she felt was God's direction for her life. The questions came...slowly seeping into her consciousness: Did I hear Him right? Am I sure He wants me to go this way? Why am I not seeing any progress? What if I'm totally off course? The slow moving chill of fear started creeping into her bones....because, well, nothing was happening.

What does one do when you're walking in His way and nothing happens?

Joshua and the Israelites came to mind. They had just experienced crossing the Jordan having been told they would take possession of the land before them. Israel was now a mighty fighting force to behold.  As the girl thought about this, she figured they felt pretty confident in their abilities as warriors.

The first destination on their journey in the Promised Land?  Jericho.  A fenced town with high walls containing mighty men of valor.  "Hmmm," the girl thought, "the Israelites surely had a sense of the type of road they would have to travel, the battles awaiting them, in order to take possession of the land God had promised them."

But, God gave some bizarre instructions.  March around the city one time each day for six days and on the seventh day march around seven times.  And do this in total silence...with no voice being heard until the seventh time around on the seventh day..

The girl thought about those men walking around the city every day, in silence, for six long days.  And then on the seventh day, walking around seventh times.  She wondered when the questions and doubts started entering into the thoughts of each warrior? Was it the third day?  Maybe the fifth day? Or the fourth time around on the seventh day?  Because, you see, nothing was happening.

Did we hear God right?  Are we sure He wants us to go this way?  Nothing seems to be happening!

Who knows what was happening in the spiritual realm during these seven days! But, upon the seventh trip around on the seventh day, their obedience complete, they witnessed evidence of God's purpose for them.

"Ahhh," the girl smiled.  "Surely the Lord is with me, and I will praise Him BEFORE my walls come down, BEFORE I see my destiny."

Fortified with strength and courage, the girl got up from where she sat and continued on her journey with a renewed spring in her step.

SMASH video

This is such a cool video regarding the new craze Smash Books...I love the idea.  If you're a journaler, this is awesome.  Great way to really "get down on paper" what you're feeling, learning and experiencing in your spiritual life.