Whether we are willing to admit it or not, most of us prefer calm seas, beautiful blue skies and white, puffy clouds. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Who doesn’t prefer the sunny, bright moments to the dark, dreary ones?
When it comes to our desire that life be smooth sailing, there’s one word that seems to be the stumbling block—all. It’s the attitude that “Don’t I really deserve more of the smooth and delightful, rather than the rough and difficult?”
The whole idea of “deserve more” can sneak up on us if we’re not careful. Put another way—we may find ourselves harboring a sense of entitlement. Personally, with the health issues I’ve had in recent years I’ve wondered at times if calm seas, beautiful blue skies and white, puffy clouds were a thing of the past. For as much as I said I believed God cared, it was a challenge some days to believe he wasn’t totally busy elsewhere.
We don’t have to dig too deep into Scripture to see how the life of Jesus—his journey through the smooth and the rough–can be helpful to us as well.
He enjoyed weddings, banquets, and feasts, small and large. He joyfully interacted with groups of children. He was pleased to instruct his disciples and guide them in their work. He savored the time he spent in prayer and being with the Father to find his point of obedience.
At the same time he was reviled by authorities, persecuted by the powers that be, ignored and laughed at by those who saw him as little more than a rabbi, mostly on the verge of madness. He endured mental and emotional torment, physical fatigue, and more than a few occasions of abuse and mistreatment.
And yet, he embraced all of it. He didn’t want or expect special treatment. He was grateful for the moments of lightheartedness and camaraderie with family and friends, even as he understood the rough times as opportunities to learn and trust more deeply in the One who had created and called him to be the person he was meant to be.
I’m not sure we can stay the course when the seas are rough and threatening, apart from a willingness to embrace the grace and mercy of our God who loves each of us beyond our understanding or comprehension. The description of Jesus walking on water to calm the seas as the disciples flailed in the boat is a wonderful reminder that when we keep our eyes on him, the waves and thunder of uncertainty and fear are calmed.
There are many places in Scripture that offer comfort and clarity when we feel there’s no way through darkness into the light. A personal favorite:
For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. [2 Cor. 4:17-18]
While ‘momentary’ may seem to drag on and on, particularly when the circumstances are dark, the Divine promise is clearly stated—what is seen is transitory, what is unseen is eternal.
Dear fellow sojourner, may we embrace that Truth with perseverance, heart, and hope.
Do I fear the rough seas? Why?
Am I open to trusting God to carry me through the storms?
How can I keep my eyes on Jesus me when I’m surrounded by darkness?
