“You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.” (Psalm 89:9 NIV)
If you read my blog regularly you may have noticed that all my posts last week were from another writer or were reruns. I hope and pray they spoke to you, even if they weren’t “fresh” from me. If life is a series of “surging seas” and “waves” of activity, my past three weeks have been full of waves. In those three weeks, after a busy summer, we began a full school year schedule. Labor Day weekend my oldest got engaged. (Yes, the one who just graduated high school; more on that later.) Last weekend one of my younger children ended up on emergency surgery at the regional children’s hospital for a broken hip. (Search “SCFE Ortho” if you’re curious.) In addition, I had to have my three fall classes ready to teach by last Friday. In the meantime were all the regular things – caring for the rest of the family while one is hospitalized, being the “kid taxi” for one, communicating with family and friends about the surgery and recovery, coordinating meals and chores and housework…… All the things.
All. The. Things.
Yet, the waves did not overtake me. I lived out God’s promises of Isaiah 43:2 (NIV): “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” The weeks were full, but God was faithful. The engagement was full of family, friends, and people who love this young couple and want to bless and encourage them to walk with the Lord together. The hospitalization was filled with so many examples of God’s favor and the power of prayer that I will have to write a separate post for that. The rest of fullness of “The Things” may have had a bit more “wave” than normal, but nothing has capsized the ship, so to say. For that I am very grateful.
Perhaps you were or are in a “wavy” or even “night” season of life. May these words from Psalm 42 minister to you:
My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love.
All through the day Yahweh has commanded his endless love to pour over me.
Through the night I sing his songs and my praises to the living God.
I will say to God, “You are my mountain of strength…”
So I say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed.
For I know my God will break through for me.”
Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.
Yes, he is my saving grace!“
Wave-Stilling-God,
You are the One who watches over us in the seasons of life that are filled with abundant waves and even darkness. Thank you for your faithfulness and your attentiveness to us. Thank you for our families, friends, faith communities, and even strangers who stand in the gap for us in prayer. Thank you for keeping our spiritual and emotional boat from capsizing as we wait on you and trust in you. Thank you for breaking through for us, pouring out your endless love over us, and being our mountain of strength. You are our saving grace and we praise you for being our God. AMEN.
“My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love.
Your waterfall of weeping sent waves of sorrow
over my soul, carrying me away,
cascading over me like a thundering cataract.
All through the day Yahweh has commanded his endless love to pour over me.
Through the night I sing his songs
and my praises to the living God.
I will say to God, “You are my mountain of strength;
how could you forget me?
Why must I suffer this vile oppression of my enemies—
these heartless tormentors who are out to kill me?”
Their wounding words pierce my heart
over and over while they say,
“Where is this God of yours?”
So I say to my soul,
“Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed.
For I know my God will break through for me.”
Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.
Yes, he is my saving grace!” (Psalm 42:7-11 TPT)