How I relish being engulfed in God’s presence and love while vacationing at a lake-front cottage on Lake Ontario, where the beauty of God’s creation is endless. My spirit was filled with oneness and unity with God while spending a week there in the quietness. Well, actually, it wasn’t quite so quiet this time. Most of the days, Lake Ontario sounded like a mighty ocean as the wind made the waves the highest and most violent I’ve seen there. It never ceases to amaze me how God made this lake to sometimes be as still and calm as a sheet of glass and other times a sea of endless, tumultuous waves. It is beautiful to experience both and see how God is present in both. Isn’t that the perfect parallel with our lives? God is present with us each moment, in both the difficult storms of life and in the peaceful, calm times of our lives too!
Being mesmerized watching and listening to the huge waves, the themes of “engulfed” and “deep waters” came to mind. I also reflected on the wind, reminding me of the Holy Spirit’s presence as I watched the water. What could God be showing my spirit? Despite the scene in front of me, I felt peace settle into me. It was soothing despite the chaos of the waters.
I enjoyed taking time to research different Bible verses that use the themes of “engulfed” and “deep waters” and settled on sharing these three:
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. –Isaiah 43:1-2 (NLT)
Aren’t these verses so encouraging? God speaks to us too, letting us know He calls us by name because we belong to Him. We are His chosen ones who need not be afraid of the deep water that comes into our lives. God is always with us through the storms of life and the rivers of difficulty. Because of this, we will not drown! God always has us and works everything out for our good, even when we can’t see it. We need to trust God. The deep waters that engulf us and the flames of oppression will not prevail. God’s presence, love, and grace are greater!
REFLECTION:
When have you felt the Lord call your name, knowing you are His chosen one?
When did you reach out to grab God’s hand to pull you out of the deep waters?
Photo courtesy of Cary Bass-Deschenes under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. –Jonah 2:1-10 (NIV)
Jonah knew the Lord had called him to go to Nineveh to preach against the wickedness of the city. Jonah chose to run from God, sailing to Tarshish instead of Nineveh. God sent a great wind and violent storm upon the sea while Jonah was on the ship. Jonah knew that for the storm to subside, he needed to be thrown overboard. When he was, God provided for Jonah’s safety by providing a fish to swallow him, where he remained for three days and three nights. This Scripture is Jonah’s prayer, where he realizes the error of his ways and the sovereignty of God.
Isn’t Jonah’s description of the sea one you can relate to? Does your life ever fit that description of the sea? Currents swirling all about you, the waves and breakers of life sweeping over you, the waters engulfing you, being out in deep waters, and seaweed wrapped around you? Doesn’t your life feel like it is ebbing away at times?
What lessons does Jonah give us for these times in our lives?
To remember…
…that God is always with us.
…to pray to God for help.
…to turn from the idols in our lives.
…to be obedient to Him.
…to offer sacrifices of praise to God, for our salvation is from Him.
REFLECTION:
When have you felt like Jonah in the stormy sea?
What helps you to overcome the storms?
Photo courtesy of BK under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” –Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV)
Jesus and His disciples are in a boat when Jesus falls asleep. A violent storm accompanies them, with waves so high that the boat takes on water. Naturally, the disciples are scared and afraid they will drown. In their panic, they awakened Jesus, who rebuked the winds and waves, making the water still. Jesus asks them why they were fearful instead of holding on to their faith.
REFLECTION:
In what storm in your life did you not have faith that God was in charge?
Have you failed to see Jesus in the boat with you?
Be encouraged this week to…
…know you are God’s chosen one.
…experience God with you in the deep waters.
…be obedient to God’s call.
…know God will get you through the storm.
…replace fear with faith and know that God is in charge.
…call out to God to rebuke the wind and waves in your life.
The calm, still waters
I pray you experience God’s presence and love engulf your life even during the waves and storms of this life. He has victory over the deep waters that threaten us!
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. –Psalm 89:8-9 (NIV)
I really enjoyed this post because Jesus even told us that we will have tribulations in this world but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. However, sometimes it’s easy to forget that when you are experiencing some of the storms of life. I think the trouble with being human is that it’s easy to focus on what we can see in the natural. Even His disciples who spent so much time with Jesus and who saw His miracles got shaken up in that storm. A comment: I do think the Book of Jonah is hilarious because he tried to hide from God, Who happens to know everything anyway!
Thank you so much, Deborah, for taking time to read and to share. I appreciate you sharing that reminder about Jesus saying we will have tribulations in this world, yet we are to be of good cheer! It brings me comfort to see the disciples humanity shine forth despite being with Jesus. Amen to your share about the Book of Jonah. God bless~