Smile at the Storm
Friday 15th August
The captain stood on the bridge of his ship gazing out across a sunlit sea of glass with his eyes fixed upon the storm clouds he saw in the distance. Although the sea was calm he knew they were sailing right into a hurricane and there was nothing to do but go full steam ahead. In another few hours his mighty ship was being tossed to and fro like a cork. The following day the storm was past and once again the nose of the ship was cutting through the glassy sea.
One remark the captain said has stuck with us. He said, ”When I am sailing in calm waters I know that rough seas are ahead of me and when I am in the midst of a storm I know that calm seas lie ahead.” Life is like that. It certainly isn’t the same all the time. When we are in the midst of trouble and our anxieties are building up within us it is comforting to know that calm seas are ahead. It is also wise to remember when things are going well that now is the time to prepare for the rough seas that will surely come to us.
In one of our hymns we sing ”With Christ in the vessel we smile at the storm.” We sing that with gusto but do we live it? When we are in the midst of a storm and our little boat is being tossed hither and thither do we really smile at the storm? We do if we have enough faith. That is the key to weathering the storms of life. Faith. If we really were in a boat with Jesus in the midst of a storm would we smile at it? His disciples did not. You will remember the incident on the Sea of Galilee when ”there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he (Jesus) was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”
Now one thing can be said for the disciples. When they were afraid they knew where to turn for help. They awoke Jesus and said, ”Lord, save us: we perish.” How wonderful it is to know that Jesus is now wide awake and ready to hear our cries. David rejoiced in the knowledge that ”He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” He that kept Israel will also keep us. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of what God told Joshua saying ”I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This knowledge should give us so much comfort that we can say boldly ”The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
When we fail to say this, it is because our faith is less than it should be. Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith. Let us accept that rebuke when it applies to us and do as they did. They were forgiven for their shortcomings because they stayed as close to Jesus as they could. Luke tells us that the apostles said to Jesus, ”increase our faith.”
They knew they needed more faith and asked Jesus to increase it for them. We need more faith and we should ask to have ours increased. Our request will be answered just as theirs was, but it won’t happen if we just sit back and do nothing. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The way to stay close to Jesus is by reading of the Word and by prayer. Let us be sure we are faithful in doing this for if we are, then our faith will be increased and we can confidently sing out, ”With Christ in the vessel we smile at the storm.”