Trust after a storm

"O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore." Ps. 131

     The psalmist is speaking back to the Lord His working of grace in his life. This is speaking peace after a turbulent storm. The Lord brings still and calm after overwhelming storms. He speaks peace into our hearts and assurance that He is there and loves us fiercely.

"The love of God reigning in the heart, will subdue self-love." Matthew Henry

     So often our storms are the results of self-worship and a striving for our own will. So often, in these storms, we feel overwhelmed by emotion and pressure and uncertainty. But the Master is in the boat with us. He sends us through storms to encourage us, nay, force us to flee to Him over and over and over again, until the storm is over. He uses the storms to strengthen our faith in His presence and love, regardless of the wind, waves, rain, thunder, lightning, or complete calm and quiet. He uses the storms to show us our utter weakness and inability to live life on our own.

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD," Jer. 29:12-14a

1. Master, the tempest is raging!
   The billows are tossing high!
   The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness,
   No shelter or help is nigh;
   Carest Thou not that we perish?
   How canst Thou lie asleep,
   When each moment so madly is threat’ning
   A grave in the angry deep?
   • Refrain:
     The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will,
     Peace, be still!
     Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
     Or demons or men, or whatever it be,
     No waters can swallow the ship where lies
     The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies;
     They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
     Peace, be still! Peace, be still!
     They all shall sweetly obey Thy will,
     Peace, peace, be still!
2. Master, with anguish of spirit
   I bow in my grief today;
   The depths of my sad heart are troubled—
   Oh, waken and save, I pray!
   Torrents of sin and of anguish
   Sweep o’er my sinking soul;
   And I perish! I perish! dear Master—
   Oh, hasten, and take control.
3. Master, the terror is over,
   The elements sweetly rest;
   Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
   And heaven’s within my breast;
   Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
   Leave me alone no more;
   And with joy I shall make the blest harbor,
   And rest on the blissful shore.
4. -Horatio R. Palmer