At Wits' End

Others went out to the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters,
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and
went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they were at their wits' end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress,
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
Psalm 107:23-31

The name of my storm is cancer. What's yours? The storms of my life and yours could have been spoken into existence by God. Job's was and yet He trusted God. As Job dealt with his incredible emotional and physical pain his courage began to melt away. It's hard to hang onto courage and hope when the waves mount up to the heavens and go down to the depths. Have you ever sensed your courage melting away? There were times during my battle with cancer that I would sense my courage slipping away. I was desperately clinging to my belief that God had spoken to me and that I was not supposed to do chemotherapy or radiation. I knew I was going against conventional medical treatment for cancer. My doctors tried to discourage me and I never felt I had a medical team that was supportive of me. My ship was sailing alone. It took great courage to continue on my course after a surgeon told me I would die if I did not do chemo or radiation. God's hand held mine as I sailed on trusting His voice to guide me, even when I could not see the shore.

It takes great faith to choose to look away from the storm and focus our gaze on God. It was only when these merchants were at their wits' end that they cried out to God. As their cries pierced the heavens God stilled the storm to a whisper and brought them out of their distress. It is easy for God to still the storms of our circumstances. But can we still the storms of our hearts while the waves are crashing all around us? Your circumstances are beyond your control, but your response to them is not. No matter how tall the waves, or how fierce the storm, don't let them dictate your response. Don't reel and stagger. Don't get to your wits' end before you cry out to God. When you first see the dark clouds gather, grab your life vest and throw it on. God's word will sustain and strengthen you as your ride out the storm. Praise God even before you know you are safe. Paul was the apostle who purposed to praise and when he did his shackles fell off and he walked out of prison a free man.

I think the greatest lesson God wants us to learn is how to still our hearts BEFORE he stills the storm. Your faith is not gauged by your response once the sea is calm but your response when the waves are pounding down on your ship, threatening to destroy you. Everything you need to be able to praise God during the storm is provided for you. Look up and you will find it radiantly shining through the ominous clouds. It's the shape of the cross. It's the sound of the whip on his back and the declaration of Isaiah 53:5 that says, "By His wounds we are healed." We are healed from disease and every emotional pain inflicted by others and anything in our life that needs a touch from heaven.

God's unfailing love is what will calm your storm. You are a child of the King Most High. He will never leave you or forsake you. His love for you is endless. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He spoke to the waves, "Peace, Be Still" (Mark 4:39) and the seas grew calm. He can speak to your storm at any time. He will do so once His purposes have been accomplished.

His purpose and plan for taking us through the storm can be found in
Isaiah 32: 2 "Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land."

His love is all you need. It is more than enough. Let it soak into every fiber of your being so you can face the storms of life with a God saturated soul.