Sailing Life’s Storms

Hope Ellen Rapson

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2)

Life is filled with distressing issues or events that make us want to just give “up the ship.” We often cannot see beyond the waves of fear, anxiety, or hopelessness. Such storms break out threatening to sweep our resolve to stay faithful to God because in the struggle, we cannot see the calm shore or safe harbor ahead. Even when we put our whole strength to control the tiller and sheets of our lives we still cry out to the Lord, “Is this the right course? Does the Lord really want me to go through this? Isn’t there some other way?”

We are not alone in this rain of emotions and questions. Jesus, the God/Man experienced the same when he found himself alone among his sleeping disciples on the Mount of Olives. In full acknowledgement of the lightening that would soon strike him…arrest, abandonment, beating, crucifixion, and being completely split apart from his heavenly Father and guiding Holy Spirit, Jesus asked, “isn’t there another way?” He did not find it easy to say, “Not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26-39) He even told his companions that He was so deeply troubled that He thought he could die. (Matt. 26:38) In prayer, He poured out the storm in his heart to the point sweating blood. (Lk. 22: 44) Would he hold the course, follow the compass, obey the chart through the storm to provide redemption for even those who would even kill Him? Three times he came to the brink, but three time his naked, storm-soaked will said, “I will hold this course!”

We find it hard to keep our prow into the wind, to battle with the will and emotions against the winds and waves that seek to capsize our lives. Even after we say, “I will hold the course,” the storms do not quickly abate, but they will not last forever. Because Christ, who was tossed and torn for us, knows who we are, where we are, and how we are, and why we are struggling. He did, too. We do not endure life’s storms alone and with the help of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, united now because of the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf, we can weather the storms here with eternal hope. Amen!

Related reading:  Get a Grip! Be Steadfast