“…see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof…Then they cry unto the Lordin their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still…so He bringeth them unto their desired haven.” – Psalm 107:23-30
An old song says, “He’s the Master of the sea”, and indeed He is. It is God who controls the wind and the waves. He alone is able to cause the sea to rage or rest. The late Adrian Rogers said:
It is a very shallow theology that says if we’re in the will of God, we’ll always sail smoothly on the sea of life. We’ll have no sickness, no sorrow, no disappointment, know no separation. There’ll be no problems in our family. The “joy boys” get on television and say, “You just believe God and send me an offering, and you’ll never be sick. Everything’ll be fine.” This is the gospel of cash and Cadillacs. Friend, there’s a Greek word for that—“baloney.”
No, we are going to have difficulty. And the first thing you can say when difficulty comes is that God’s providence is over it all. “I am governed by His providence.”
Not only am I governed by His providence, but I am growing by His plan. Now God’s plan is not to indulge you; God’s plan is to enlarge you. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” (Psalm 4:1)
Those of you who’ve been on the trail for awhile, who have walked a long time with the Lord, when did you grow the most? When everything was fine? When there was smooth sailing? Or when the storm came? Did you not grow more in the storm, in distress, when you were crowded to Christ, and when you had to call upon Him? You are growing by His plan.
Dear friend, when the storms of life rage about you, stop trying to understand God and just trust Him. Stop thinking about,”When am I going to get out of the storm?” and ask, “What am I going to get out of it?”. God has a plan. Trust Him to do what is right and be at peace!
