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.
Better to go through the storm with God than to have smooth sailing without Him. (RBC)
