Turbulent Waters

Turbulent Waters
written by Chris Baker

There is something so majestic about the sea. I have spent the majority of my life around the ocean, especially my childhood. The sea is an unpredictable and powerful place. One moment things seem peaceful and calm, the next turbulent and uncertain. The sea can be a very powerful force to recon with. 

Have you ever body surfed before? The whole key is to allow your body to go where the wave wants to take you. One must take a certain form in order to be any good at it. If you are a limp noodle you will not go very far. I spent so many hours in the ocean that riding a wave is like tying my shoes, it is just something I do. 

I have ridden waves on calm peaceful days where I calmly glide through the water. I have also ridden waves prior to an approaching storm. Being in the water during these times can be of grave concern. The sea has now turned extremely violent. The once gentle and calm wave has become powerful and overbearing. I have almost drowned on several occasions. When caught in a powerful wave it will violently thrust you to the ocean floor. Just as you attempt to emerge from the water you are thrown again like a rag doll to the bottom of the sea. This is how many people drown. They get caught in deep places and do not have the ocean floor as a platform to force themselves back to the surface. 

I have also spent a lot of my days on boats. Many times, I have been caught in storms that came out of nowhere. One minute the sky was blue, and the seas were calm, then came encroaching darkness. The sky turns to black, the wind increases, the blinding rain comes and the seas rage! The sea is a truly majestic place.

Today’s Psalm speaks about the sea. Take a moment and read Psalm 93. The Lord is described as being robed in majesty and armed with strength. His throne is described as being eternal and the earth firmly planted. Meaning, nothing is moving the Lord or taking Him by surprise. The Lord is firmly established and cannot be moved. This stands in strong contrast to the unpredictable and ever moving seas. 

The Psalmist describes the power of the sea. It describes the power of the waves as they rise to the heights and come crashing down. The waves are described as thundering against the sea walls. Again, we get a picture of the mighty power of the sea. 

Life can seem like the sea at times. One minute life is going well and we find ourselves gracefully gliding through our days. Then all of a sudden, we get hit by a powerful blow. Our heads are still spinning as the skies suddenly turn black and the sea begins to rage. Life is extremely unpredictable and uncertain. 

Who knows how long the sea will rage? Who knows how long we will be pinned against the ocean floor, unable to take a breath? In fact, many of us experience these emotions in life. Our loved one suddenly becomes ill, we lose our job, our business tanks, our health fails, a loved one dies, you get the idea. Of course, some of us experience things differently than others. One thing may be life shattering for one person and common place for another. The point being, life becomes turbulent! However, we can turn to the one who controls the raging sea. 

The Lord is firmly established, nothing is rocking His world. Nothing comes as a surprise to God.  He is robed in majesty, armed with strength, cannot be moved and is adorned in holiness forever! We must take our eyes off the turbulent seas and place them on the One who is firmly established. 

Whatever turmoil you may be experiencing is no comparison to the immovable Lord. He loves and cares for you. He reminds us that we can come to the One who sits above the storms of life. We can firmly plant our feet on the Lords solid ground. Ground that is not affected by the turbulence of life. The Lord can carry you through the storms of life. Scripture never promises to remove the storm, but does promise His peace through the storm (Philippians 4:7). Apart from Christ we can do nothing. Apart from Christ we are left to navigate the raging seas on our own. However, we can do all things through Christ Jesus, the one who gives us His strength to face any challenge (Philippians 4:13). 

Look to the solid immovable rock today. We can firmly plant our feet on the rock, who is Christ Jesus our Lord. The Lord will guide us through every storm of life. Don’t try to navigate in your own strength, rather, submit to Him! 

Psalm 121:1-3 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber” (ESV).