Issue 1,123 – Be Still in the Storm – April 6, 2023
Earlier this week, Kathy and I walked in Fishtrap Creek (Ellwood) Park in Abbotsford. It’sIt’s a gentle walk around ponds and wetlands along Fishtrap Creek.
The park is a popular spot for birders, with over 110 species recorded. I was happy to see the very distinctive leucistic Canada goose had returned. He has a unique face because of the lack of pigment in places. Canada geese and ducks, including mallards, northern shovelers, buffleheads, and wood ducks, were plentiful.
The day was a bit gray and dreary, and spring was a little late in arriving, but things had begun to bud out; we saw our first salmonberry flowers of the season.
We stopped at one of the viewpoints to watch the birds, and I snapped this shot of the reflections in the still pond.
In my recent Bible reading, I reread Psalm 107 and was struck by a passage illuminated afresh by the Spirit.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:28-31
There is a prophetic element to this Psalm.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:35- 41 (see also Matthew 8, Luke 8, John 6)
Jesus calmed the raging sea with a simple command to be still. At His Word, chaos was replaced with calm. The Lord is sovereign over the natural order of things. In a way, we should expect that knowing He is the creator, but still, it can surprise us.
Life comes complete with storms. Those storms can be events like the raging sea but also come in the form of situational struggles, emotional turmoil, spiritual attack and more. Every life has them at times.
Knowing Jesus can calm the storm with a word, we can trust Him no matter what comes our way. Even when the waves threaten to overwhelm us, and we don’t think we can hold on a moment more, we can still trust Him for our rescue.
In every situation, He knows what we need. The Lord knows how and when we will be delivered. The storm may break, or God may give us over to the storm, but He is faithful, just and merciful. Whatever the outcome, He knows what is best, and we can trust Him.
Yes, the storms bring difficulties, perhaps even seemingly overwhelming ones, but He is sovereign. We can be still and know that He is God.
Hold fast, my friends. Our rescue has been dispatched. Be still even in the storm and trust the Lord.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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