Mid-week Devotional:

Week of April 29, 2024

This week’s devotional comes from the Old Testament, the book of Psalms, Psalm 107:23-29.

Hear the word of God.

“23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty water; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; 29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” (NRSV)

This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.

The words of the psalmist tell of the experience of men who were used to living and working on a ship at sea. They were used to the up and down movement of the ship in the water. They were used to the hard work needed to row the ship. They were used to the changes of the wind and their climbing up the masts to open and lower sails when needed. But they never got used to the gales and hurricanes that would come upon them when out on the seas.

During the storms giant swells of water surrounded them tossing their ship about like a leaf in the wind. During storms they no longer had control of the movement of the ship as it “mounted upward to heaven” on the rolling waves and then “down into the depths” of the sea (v. 26).

This past Friday afternoon storms moved through our area. Among the storms there were high winds and rain. Tornados touched down in several states including Texas and Nebraska. As my husband and I watched the clouds above us from our deck we saw the clouds begin to swirl into a spiral. Our response was to immediately go inside our home to our “safe” place always ready for us to go to during stormy weather. The physical structure that surrounded us was our “ship” like the one described in Psalm 107.

Inside our “ship” we could hear the wind, the rain, and the clanging sound of hail hitting against our metal roof. The hearts of the men on the ship in Psalm 107 like ours beat a little faster during the physical storm. They too like us could not control the winds and rain that battered their ship.  But they didn’t give up and jump into the raging waters that surrounded them. Their response was to “cry out to the Lord in their trouble” (v. 28). And as we waited in our “safe” place I too lifted up prayers to God that all would be well. As the Lord “brought those on the boat out of their distress” so did God bring us out of our distress (v. 28).

There are other types of storms that occur within our lives beyond the physical storms of wind and rain. Storms within humanity around the world occur daily and are numerous. Examples include: accidents, relationships within families, employment, medical emergencies, and acts of violence.

When we encounter storms such as these within our lives, we do not have to seek a safe place to go to. Scripture reminds us that our “safe place” is always there beside us. It is the eternal presence of God.

The words within Psalm 107 remind us that God is there. Hear again the response of the men to the storm. They “cried to the Lord in their trouble” and the Lord “brought them out from their distress; 29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed” (v. 28-29).

Shelter from the storms that surround us are found within the everlasting presence of God.

It is when we are still and are open to listening for God’s voice that we will hear these words in our heart and soul.

“I am here. I am here on your right side. I am here on your left side. I am here behind you following you. I am here in front of you leading you on your journey of faith. I am beneath you lifting you up when you fall. I am above you watching over you every second of your life for you are precious. You are my creation. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

May you remember that God is always present.

Peace be with you.

AMEN.