Seas of Fury in the Storms of Life

I’m sitting here at the beach watching and listening to the sounds of the surf pound against the shore from my hotel room.  A storm is on the horizon and the waves are especially rough, leaving an endless white and foamy trail.  I love the ocean.  It is one of my happy places.  I came down to the beach to escape the trappings of a long and difficult year defined by one trial after another.  I came to the beach to rest my soul, to recharge and see the splendor of God’s creation.  Ancient religions however didn’t seek the ocean for respite.  In fact, they feared the ocean and its mysterious power.  They referred to the sea as an abyss and saw it as a symbol of chaos and hell.  Today, we understand many of the ocean’s mysteries and those fears of the unknown have been put to rest.  However, we do fear the storms of life- storms that sweep up suddenly and crush us like the waves. Many of these storms are man-made, created by people whose angry hearts are as furious as a raging sea.  Their words foaming from their mouth like a thundering surf, pounding others with their fury. Today there are many angry voices and fists raised at God, challenging His authority and Kingdom.  But the good news is, God is still on the throne, “robed in majesty”. 

 Let us look at Psalm 93

¹ The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
    indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
² Your throne was established long ago;
    you are from all eternity.

³ The seas have lifted up, Lord,
    the seas have lifted up their voice;
    the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea—
    the Lord on high is mighty.

⁵ Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
    holiness adorns your house
    for endless days.

Fear not friends.  The Lord is clothed in strength and His glory and power will reign forever. The Lord hears the cries of His children and defends those he calls His own.  The voices of the ungodly are all foam and fury. Like waves in a storm, they too will be silenced upon our King’s return.  For those who call themselves Children of God, we must remain calm in the storm.  We dwell in the protection of God’s house and verse 5 tells us to adorn ourselves with God’s holiness.  The way God’s children behave towards others is a powerful testimony.  We need to weather the storms of life with grace and not fury.  We must reflect the words of God’s truth and his holiness if we are to be a reliable witness to the world.  We must also be obedient to God’s word and repent when we fail to honor our King. A true child of God will mourn their sin and offer forgiveness when they have been sinned against.  Our King Jesus paid too great a price to redeem us as His children.  When the seas of life get rough, I will cling to the robe of my King and lean on His strength.  The fight may be mine, but it is for God’s glory!