Dear friends,
Yesterday’s Gospel Lesson at worship was about
Jesus calming the storm while in a boat with His disciples. As it was read, I
recalled the Breton Fisherman’s Prayer: “Dear God, be good to me;
the sea is so wide and my boat is so small.”
What a great prayer for our times! It’s easy to
remember and can be be prayed often, whether in a time of personal or family
crisis, a great need in the home, church, workplace or nation, or a time when
we just need some personal calm and peace.
Life is like a long and difficult journey across a
wide and unknown sea. It is easy to get tossed about or even lost. Even a large
boat can get pushed about by the winds of fear and trouble.
Sometimes we think we’re the only boat in the sea
and fail to look for other boats we could help or those that could help us in
the storm. We may spend our time pointing out the mistakes of other boats, or
fall asleep at the rudder and let our boat drift into uncharted and dangerous
waters.
But we are not alone at sea; Jesus, the Captain of
our souls, is with us! He gives us the Chart and Compass of His Holy Word. Life
is easier when we follow His Lighthouse Beacon, rather than the whims of
enlightened little captains who are also wandering in the waters. We do well to
pray often, “Dear God, be good to me; the sea is so wide and my boat is
so small.”
Sometimes we act as if we’re steering a battleship
or a destroyer, charging others in the fleet. Other times our boat gets stuck
in the mud, and we cry out or even fight the other passengers. We may act as if
our boat is merely for our own pleasure and not also for rescuing others,
so we sail in circles, going nowhere. “Dear God, be good to me; the
sea is so wide and my boat is so small.”
The Bible says, “God is our refuge and
strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) Our hope and
help lies not in the strength of our boat, nor the skill of our sailing, but in
the Ruler of wind and waves.
Jesus our Captain can bring us through the dangers
of the wide sea, if we only trust Him. He will guide us through the storms and
into the calm of His safe haven. It is because of Him that we can have godly
joy amid any gloom and fear all around.
“Dear God, be good to me; the sea is so wide and my boat is so small.”
Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com
No comments:
Post a Comment