Most Gracious King, in my life I experience my share of personal storms which shake up my life, frightened me, cause me to change course and drive me closer to You. When they come into my life, they catch me off guard and turn everything upside down. When I’m not connected to You and the winds of adversity come rushing in, I become fearful and panic. In those times, if I search You out, realizing You control all things and possess all power, I re-establish my bearings … confident that You will help me deal with my problems. I can never be too proud to ask for Your help nor discount Your power to rescue me from my trials. When I get caught in a “pop-up” squall, it is easy to see things as out of control and I’m at the mercy of fate. In reality, everything is in Your hands and comes into alignment with Your will. Just as You calmed the seas for Your disciples, I know You will calm my storms as well.
Practicing obedience has become the foundation of my life which helps me weather my storms. Without You, my life falls apart like a house of cards. While I do not set out to do foolish things, I do them because I do not take stock in the purpose for which You brought me into this world. My thoughtlessness and stubbornness cause storm winds that crash into my life. I just do not take enough time to think through the consequences of not aligning myself with Your words. And, like the disciples who were caught in a storm with you, they dare to ask “do You not care that we drown?” I find myself doing the same thing. I sometimes feel like You are too busy with more important things to be mindful of my situation. Your suffering, and subsequent death on the Cross, convinces me otherwise. Therefore, I must keep my eyes on You, and not the storm, if I want to be rescued.
I am confident that my cries, my desires, my hopes and my aspirations are all well-known to You. You know me well … and, that is why I want You involved in solving whatever problem I face and showing me my path forward. I believe I am the apple of Your eye and the special interests You have include me. I know that to You “all lives matter” … mine included. I am also glad to be a part of the family You have joined together so we can weather life’s storms individually (with their help) or collectively. As One Body, we hurt together, struggle together, endure together, bear one another’s burdens and survive the storms together. Your dreams have become my dreams and the future You have for me is where I want to focus my attention. I believe that as long as I cling to You, I will make it out of my storms. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
James 3:4 Take a ship as an example. Although they are large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants them to go.