Day 4: God delivers us from all our fears
[Jesus] said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).
Creator God, You are the Lord, our Maker, who stretches out the heavens and who lays the foundations of the earth (Isaiah 51:13).
Lord Jesus You are the head over every power and authority (Colossians 2:9-10), for in You all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things have been created through You and for You. You are before all things, and in You all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17).
The disciples grappled with Your might and Your majesty, Your power and authority, as, terrified, [they] asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:41). They echoed the awe of Ethan the Ezrahite as he prayed centuries before:
Who is like You, Lord God Almighty?... You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them (Psalm 89:8-9).
But yet, You needed to challenge them, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). How often You have whispered that question into our own spirits above the fury of the squall and the breaking of the waves, and the swamping of our boat!
In truth, Lord, we can only respond, “Lord, You know all things..." (John 21:17). You know our terror of the raging tempest, our fear of the towering waves, our dread of the rushing surge. You know our confusion, our doubts, our questions: "Carest Thou not that we perish?"
Oh God, increase our faith! You are the God who delivers us from all our fears. Help us to see You through the blinding spray and the stinging salt—to hear Your "Peace! Be Still!" above the howling wind and the crashing waves.
Lord, You are with us through the storm. You have promised to be with us till the end. Remind us of this in these strange days of extremes and uncertainty. And should we experience—literally or figuratively—times when nations are in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea [and] people... faint from terror (Luke 21:25-26)—remind us that the wind and the waves still obey You.
Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness, No shelter or help is nigh; Carest Thou not that we perish? How canst Thou lie asleep, When each moment so madly is threat’ning A grave in the angry deep?
Refrain: The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea, Or demons or men, or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies; They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still! They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, peace, be still!
Master, with anguish of spirit I bow in my grief today; The depths of my sad heart are troubled— Oh, waken and save, I pray! Torrents of sin and of anguish Sweep o’er my sinking soul; And I perish! I perish! dear Master— Oh, hasten, and take control.
~ Mary A Baker ~ 1874
Comentários