[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Monday, May 5, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good Monday to most of you, and a good Monday to you all.  Of course, for you in Australia and Kiwi Country it's Tuesday morning.  I hope that everything's going well for you, by God's matchless grace and His providential care.

The following article originally appeared in the May 2004 issue of "The Gospel Messenger" magazine, published by the Gospel Association for the Blind.  This piece has no author's name attached to it, but it is entitled "Through the Storm," rendered as follows:

"They're ... at their wits' end.  Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still" (Psalm 107:27-29).

What a wonderful, wonderworking God we have! There is nothing that He cannot do.  He has the power to calm every storm that descends upon the children of men.

Naturally, we seek to avoid these storms of trouble, but it seems that they are necessary if we are to fully appreciate the time of calm.  God knows that these storms are needed, or He would not permit them to overtake us.

One day a little vessel was wallowing helplessly in the raging Sea of Galilee.  And "there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full" (Mark 4:37).  To these terrified disciples, it evidently looked like the end.  "Master, carest Thou not that we perish?" they cried.

Of course, He cared, but they evidently needed the storm to make them understand and appreciate His care and His power to save.  "And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm" (Mark 4:39).

To say that His disciples were astonished at this would be putting it mildly.  "And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, What manner of Man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" If anyone had any doubts about Christ being the Son of God, I'm sure their doubts were dispelled that day.

Sometimes a great storm of trouble may swoop down upon us, and before we realize it, we too are "at our wit's end."

Do we "cry unto the Lord in our trouble," and look to Him for deliverance, or do we look to someone else?

It is often the case that we turn to Him only after all human resources fail.  We must come to an end of ourselves before we really look to Him for deliverance.  If we could only learn to come to Him first and rely on His power, we would not have to pass through such straits in reaching the end of human resources.

Has some storm of trouble engulfed your frail bark, dear friend? Don't be discouraged.  Look to the Lord Jesus for deliverance! There is no storm too great for Him to handle.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

He can bring us through the storm, for "He maketh the storm a calm" in our lives when He says, "Peace, be still." And once again we will enjoy that blessed quietness which He alone can bring up.  Then, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass" (Psalm 37:5).

"Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He bringeth them unto their desired haven" (Psalm 107:30).  Then your sorrow will be turned to joy, and your prayer to praise.  It is no wonder that the Psalmist continues, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men" (Psalm 107:31).

And there you have this short but encouraging article by an unknown author, which I trust was a blessing to you.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another daily thought message for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul