I woke early this Sunday morning and while eating my orange and bananas began to listen to worship music. I clicked onto YouTube to an old hymn sung by Selah which has five poetic verses written long ago. If you've sung many hymns then you've probably sung the verse of this one.
I love those last two lines. They immediately transport me to the Sea of Galilee, 2000 years ago. The story is familiar. I picture the disciples with Jesus in the boat, tossed on large waves blown by powerful winds. It was a storm bad enough to frighten these young but very experienced fisherman/sailors. It looked like they would be swamped and would drown. Yet Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the middle of the storm.
The disciples did not yet know Jesus well enough - or perhaps they just did not trust Him enough. Either way they call for Him to wake up. Did they want Him to simply worry with them? Or did they actually believe He could help them? Save them? How? What did they expect?
Then Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves like a parent might speak to a misbehaving child. And at the voice of the Creator, the wind stops and the sea becomes calm. And the disciples are astounded!
Is your life caught in a storm right now? In your anxiety, does it seem to you like "Jesus is sleeping and doesn't care?"Do you feel like there is no way out and no way through?
Remember "the waves and winds still know, His voice who ruled them while He lived below." Remind yourself of this great truth. Talk to your self: "Be still my soul."
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
I love those last two lines. They immediately transport me to the Sea of Galilee, 2000 years ago. The story is familiar. I picture the disciples with Jesus in the boat, tossed on large waves blown by powerful winds. It was a storm bad enough to frighten these young but very experienced fisherman/sailors. It looked like they would be swamped and would drown. Yet Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the middle of the storm.
The disciples did not yet know Jesus well enough - or perhaps they just did not trust Him enough. Either way they call for Him to wake up. Did they want Him to simply worry with them? Or did they actually believe He could help them? Save them? How? What did they expect?
Then Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves like a parent might speak to a misbehaving child. And at the voice of the Creator, the wind stops and the sea becomes calm. And the disciples are astounded!
Is your life caught in a storm right now? In your anxiety, does it seem to you like "Jesus is sleeping and doesn't care?"Do you feel like there is no way out and no way through?
Remember "the waves and winds still know, His voice who ruled them while He lived below." Remind yourself of this great truth. Talk to your self: "Be still my soul."
I really enjoy Selah and this hymn in particular...those two lines have stood out to me many times as I have reflected on God's presence with us in times of uncertainty. Thanks, Nelson! achowarth
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