Thought for Today
Genesis 15:15 As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.
Psalm 107:30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.
John 6:16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified 20 But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
Yesterday, I wrote about finding comfort. This morning, as I read in Daily Devotions with William Barclay, his devotional was a reflection on John 6:16-21. He titled his reflections, “A Very Present Help in Time of Trouble.” That title is a reminder of Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Rev. Barclay imagined the disciple John, in his later years, remembering that night on the Sea of Galilee, the strong winds almost swamping the boat, the terror . . . and then Jesus’ walking on the water. Certainly, in his later years, John remembered and was comforted by “It is I; do not be afraid.” John found his comfort in Jesus.
When Greta and I moved to New England, we were introduced to a “new” hymn, “The Haven of Rest.” It is not really a new song. It was written by H. L. Gilmour who was a 19th century soldier, dentist, music composer, and who died in 1920. But it was a hymn new to us and has become one of our favorites. I even love the title itself and the image of Jesus as my haven of rest, my own very present help in times of trouble. The first line of that hymn reads, “My soul, in sad exile, was out on life’s sea. So burdened with sin and distressed, ‘Til I heard a sweet voice saying, “Make me your choice,” And I entered the haven of rest.”
Where do we find our rest, our comfort, our havens? Currently, we are inundated with television election year political ads promising that this candidate or that candidate will provide all of us a haven of rest from life’s seas. Can any of us truly take any of those political promises seriously? History and my own personal observations over my lifetime suggest those promises are at best gross exaggerations.
One of my other devotionals, These Days, begins today’s devotional with, “Jesus, our great high priest, restored humanity to God.” He did just that, opening for us direct access to our Creator God. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews addressed that topic extensively. “4:14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.”
The same Jesus who came walking on the sea to allay the fears of the disciples, who brought those disciples immediately and safely to their destination will do the same for all who answer his call. Just as Jesus watched over those followers 2000+ years ago, Jesus still watches over each of us today. Just as Jesus told them 2000+ years ago, "It is I; do not be afraid" Jesus says that to each of us today.
Does that mean the seas of our lives will never be rough? Will our boats never be in danger of being swamped? Of course not. Just as the disciples rowed across the Sea of Galilee, we too must row the boats of our lives across life’s stormy seas. Sometimes the seas are calm and quiet. Sometimes, squalls arise and the waters are choppy. Thankfully, calm or choppy, we never row those waters alone. Jesus is always watching; Jesus is always ready to walk across those waters and remind us, "It is I; do not be afraid." Then, as that hymn says, “I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep o’er the wild, stormy deep, In Jesus I’m safe evermore.”
Stay safe, anchor your soul in the haven of rest, trust God,
Pastor Ray