Tag: Storms of Life

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If it wasn’t for the Lighthouse…

How dark does the night have to be…
before you realize you can’t see where you’re going?

We wander through the darkness hoping that eventually we’ll find our way.  But add to the black of the night some wind and rain.  Feel the sting from the rain and the power of the storm…all in total darkness.  Now the dynamics are more intense.  Not only am I blinded by the night, whatever sense of ‘stability’ I once had is now in question.  We need someone to ‘shed some light’ on the subject.  A flashlight would be helpful, but a flood lamp would be great.  Better yet, if only the sun would shine and drive away the storm and night.

The storm may be ravaging your world today, and the darkness of sin may have blinded  your sight.  Do you need someone to shine the light into your day?  You can rest assured, the Son is shining!  Even after our physical sun has set and the day is done, God’s Light shines on.  He illuminates our lives and gives us hope in a dark and stormy world.  But are we willing to look for the light, be receptive to this glow and follow the light to the safety of the shore.  Robbie Hinson wrote the following country gospel song that stands to remind us that there is a lighthouse on the hillside.  [LINK]

 

There’s a lighthouse on the hillside that overlooks life’s sea.
When I’m tossed it sends out a light, a light that I might see.
And the light that shines in darkness now will safely lead me home,
If it wasn’t for the lighthouse, my ship would be no more.

Chorus
And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him.
For Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin,
He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see.
If it wasn’t for The Lighthouse, Where would this ship be?

Everyone that lives around us, they say ‘Tear that lighthouse down;
You know the big ships don’t sail this way anymore, there’s no use in it standing round.’
Then my mind goes back to that stormy night, when just in time I saw the light
Yes, the light from that old lighthouse, that stands up there on the hill.

Chorus
And I thank God for The Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him.
For Jesus is The Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin,
He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see.
If it wasn’t for The Lighthouse, Where would this ship be?

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That ‘Sinking Feeling’…

“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore.
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more.
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the water lifted me now safe am I.”

Have you ever been in a situation when you were really feeling troubled?  Some have even referred to it as a “sinking feeling”.  Troubles can come upon us and cause stress, discomfort and an overall sense of discouragement.  There have been times when we have referred to difficulties in our lives as a storm or tribulation.  So what do we do when the storms begin to rage?  If you live on the beach or near the ocean you know the precautions that must be taken when the forecast call for hurricane type winds.  But the basis for this hymn comes from the text when Peter tries to walk on water.  Notice the text from Matthew 14, beginning at verse 27; “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’  And He said, ‘Come!’  And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’  When they got into the boat, the winds stopped.  And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’.” 

From this passage we read that Peter, actually walked on the water with Jesus.  But like many of us, he was distracted by the concerns around him and eventually lost his focus.  The ‘stormy winds’ (vs.25) were real and the waves were a strong reminder to Peter that he was away from the security of the boat.  Do you feel the same when faced with stressful situations?  God calls us to come to Him just as Jesus called Peter to join Him on the surface of the Sea of Galilee.  But we know there will be storms and stressful situations.  When we start to struggle (sink), remember the words from this old hymn written in 1912 by James Rowe.

“Love lifted me!  When nothing else could help, love lifted me.”  Find the encouragement from the 2nd and 3rd verses of this old hymn.  “All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling.  In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing.  Love so mighty and so true merits (spiritual credit) my soul’s best songs; Faithful loving service, too, to Him belongs.  Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love out of the angry ways.  He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.”

We know the storms of life will come, though we don’t know when.  Forecasting a storm allows those in it’s path to prepare themselves and ‘batten down the hatches’, but how many of us today are preparing for the storms of life?  Some are walking with Christ, but are still struggling as the winds and the waves slap us in the face.  Losing our focus on God and turning to the storm, we’re sinking.  Christ is waiting for you to reach out to Him and cry with a sincere heart, “Lord, save me!”  Unfortunately today, too many refuse to acknowledge the hand of Christ as He reaches out to lift us.  Not only do we exemplify ‘little faith’, our stubborn hearts doom us as we slowly sink in sin.

Would that we realize our plight and understand the stain of our sin.  When we come to realize how much trouble we have without Christ, we’ll reach out and let Him bring us safely back into His care.  Or do we bother; are we really concerned about that ‘sinking feeling’?  The world tells us to just bear down, endure, and get over it.  But you and I know that we can’t go along in this life and without doubt, we’ll drown if someone doesn’t rescue us.  Jesus cares and He will deliver you because He loves you.  His dedication to you and your relationship with Him is more than you might understand.  But I know and I’m convenience of this…His Love Lifted Me!