BRAVING THE STORM

 (Psalm 107:23–31)

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, ²⁴ They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. ²⁵ For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. ²⁶ They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. ²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. ²⁸ Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. ²⁹ He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. ³⁰ Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. ³¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

I love the ocean! I have several souvenirs (mugs, pictures, shells, etc.), reminding me of my favorite “spot” on earth – – the sea! One of my favorite mugs has a picture from the Norman Rockwell collection, depicting a weather-beaten seaman holding on to the wheel as the waves smash against his vessel. The message on the reverse side of the cup reads as follows:

“As waves wash over the deck, a lone sailor mans the ship’s wheel. The stormy tempest tests his seamanship and stamina. But long years of experience and an abiding love of the sea give him courage as he calmly braves the storm.”

As we encounter the storms of life, the psalmist provides us with some “meditations of THE SEA” (I will give these to you in the form of an outline):

1. Its delightful discoveries (verses 23-24)
2. Its deadly dangers (verses 25-27)
3. Its dramatic deliverance’s (verses 28-30)
4. Its deductive duties (verses 31-32)

No, you cannot brave the storms of life without God’s help! Psalm 107:28 puts it so well: “Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses!” He alone can give peace amid life’s storms!