When slapped by storms and trapped by the rope
That anchors me to safety, remind me it’s not by might
When winds blow confusion into the eyes of my hope
And I barely see the difference between wrong and right
Let Your Word guide my feet and enlighten my path.
When reality shoots my faith and I falter and fall
Fasten me to Your unfailing faithfulness
When disappointments break through my wall
And violence attempts to steal my cheerfulness
Let Your Presence preserve me in quietness.
When I’m engineered by haste and miss my way
Draw me close with chords of love divine
When I succumb to mistakes and mess my day
And the fruits of my endeavor, my life devour
Let the voice of mercy rise, judgment to defy.
When I am at loss and tempted to fret
Hold me, secure and still, in Your embrace
When the wrath of men rise and events erupt
Let Your joy fuel my heart. With floods of grace
Ferry me Father, to safety in surpassing peace.
We are always encouraged and challenged not to fear. Why? Because there are many reasons that could spur us to open the doors of our hearts to fear; when things don’t go as planned or as expected, when we seem to lose control or run out of time, when we don’t know or can’t find our way, when we don’t have enough and we don’t know what next to do – countless reasons that foster fear. Sometimes, we are busy minding our business and unfortunately get infected, carried away by the confusion engulfing those around us and may not even realize it until it dawns that we are far from shore and peace is at bay. Yet, God’s Word steadfastly encourages us to look beyond the whirling realities and focus on Him who is our peace and place of safety.
I was working away, so joyfully focused when I found myself caught up in a whirl I didn’t ask for. In a twinkle of an eye, joy was gone and confusion was brewing steadily in my mind. After a phone call got a friend concerned, I stepped back and asked myself, “What was that?” “Where is this confusion coming from?” “Where is my joy?” There wasn’t a whole lot I could do to the raging storm but I did what I could: I made the choice to get myself out of the path of that whirling wind. Not long after I stepped out, I began to look around to remind myself (or rather be reminded) of God’s soothing presence that has been guarding my heart and guiding my feet. I had to make the choice to stay out of that whirling wind that I can’t control and focus my attention on the One who has been guarding and guiding me, the One who controls the wind and all, the One who is my peace and was thus restored.
Whenever the storms of life come slapping and snapping, do not fret. It is easy to get crushed in the crashes but we can always choose to take our attention from the storm we can’t control and focus it on Him whom the storms of life obey. We can choose to pitch our trust in His saving grace and rest assured that no matter how high and hard it blows, it will eventually blow over. And with our eyes on Him, we always emerge better; stronger than we entered, empowered to progress on the path that He has called us. May His surpassing peace keep you through this day and beyond.
Glory!