“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and shade from the heat …” (Isaiah 25:4)
Looking out the back window, the lake was so calm with little to no movement. It had the reflective appearance of a mirror as the sun was setting behind and it was so comforting and peaceful to see and take in. Yes, it was one of the moments that ought to be repeated if only the time were taken more often to observe it.
The thought surfaced of just how nice it would be if our lives could be that calm … but they can’t!
The Bible never promises smooth sailing as we sail on our journey through life. There is no safe harbor where the winds of change and unrest don’t reach out for us … where the sea is as smooth as the mirror-like lake. No one is exempt from the storms of life.
If we don’t keep as our anchor faith and trust in God when the times do and will get rough … when our sails as well cared for as we can maintain them … get torn … we must not lose hope.
We all know from experience how life can be challenging … when times are hard …when it is difficult to keep our heads above water … when the tears flow down our cheeks like rain … and when the rain appears to be more of a deluge.
We don’t ask for these events to come, do we? Yet they come!
There are torn sails in our lives when …
- The health of a spouse or child is worsening.
- Our own health is declining.
- We experience the death of a mate.
- One of our children or grandchildren turns away from the Lord.
- Financial stress strikes our main sail.
- A marriage is falling apart or worse yet, ends in divorce.
- When … When … When …
We simply must walk in the sunlight of God’s will, presence and comfort knowing that our Lord is not only mindful of us, but willing to help us through it. Even when the darkest hours roll our way … the most violent of storms … we must learn to keep our eyes on the Lord.
“I have journeyed through the long, dark night out on the open sea. By faith alone, sight unknown, and yet His eyes were watching me.
The anchor holds, though the ship is battered. The anchor holds, though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees as I faced the raging seas. The anchor holds in spite of the storm.”
May our Lord help each of us to increase our faith … our trust … our hope … in Him! For He is our God and we are the sheep of His pasture! During the storms of this life, though we may not understand why our God has allowed them, we can be so thankful that He will always be there to help us through them.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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