OUR DAILY BREAD : NAVIGATING THE STORM

[cimi]

May 25
Saturday


NAVIGATING
THE STORM

READ:
Psalm 107:23-32
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He commands and
raises the stormy wind,
...and He brings them
out of their distresses.
__Psalm 107:25,28
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The ancient people of the nation of Axum (located on the Red Sea in modern Ethiopia) discovered that the stormy winds of the monsoon season could be harnessed by sail for speedy navigation. Rather than dreading the high winds and rains, they learned how to navigate their way through the storm.

Psalm 107 provides a wonderful word picture of how God allows storms to come our way, and then provides help for us to navigate through them. "He commands and raises the stormy wind,... and He brings them out of their distresses" (Ps. 107:25,28).

Trusting God for guidance in troubled times is a biblical theme. Hebrews 11 lists many who used their problems as an opportunity to exercise faith and to experience God's grace, provision, and deliverance: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, [and] out of weakness were made strong" (vv.33-34).

Stormy circumstances are inevitable. Although our first reaction may be to run from the problem, we can instead ask God to teach us how to trust Him to navigate us through the storm. __Dennis Fisher

````````````````````When life feels like a storm-tossed sea```````````````````````
````````````````````with crashing waves of pain and grief,````````````````````````
``````````````````````Turn to the Lord and trust in Him``````````````````````````
`````````````````He'll give you peace and bring relief. __Sper`````````````````````
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Better to go through the storm with Christ
than to have smooth sailing without Him.

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 107:23-32************************

23 Those who go down to
the sea in ships, who do
business on great waters,

24 They see the works of the
LORD, and His wonders in
the deep. 25 For He
commands and raises the
stormy wind, which lifts up
the waves of the sea.

26 They mount up to the
heavens, they go down
again to the depths; their
soul melts because of
trouble. 27 They reel to and
fro, and stager like a
drunken man, and are at
their wits' end. 28 Then they
cry out to the LORD in their
trouble, and He brings them
out of their distresses. 29 He
calms the storm, so that its
waves are still. 30 Then they
are glad because they are
quiet; so He guides them to
their desired haven. 31 Oh,
that men would give thanks
to the LORD for His
goodness, and for His
wonderful works to the
children of men! 32 Let
them exalt Him also in the
assembly of the poeple, and
praise Him in the company
of the elders.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Christian life is sometimes like navigating stormy seas. Today's
reading describes those who "go down to the sea in ships" (v.23).
They see the marvels that God brings their way on their voyage
(v.24), and even the threatening stormy seas are viewed as coming
from the sovereign hand of God (v.25). Nevertheless, simply
recognizing God's sovereignty does not remove from their hearts
the fear caused by the storm (vv.26-27). Ultimately, their prayers for
deliverance are answered and they are guided to safe harbor (vv.28-
30). The lesson for us is to trust a sovereign God amid life's ever-
changing circumstances.