Turning to God Turns the Tide
Our life on earth often gets caught up in waves. Sometimes we ride along on waves of joy. At other times we experience waves of temptation. And still other times involve waves of doubt and confusion. But through it all, there is One we can turn to who is able to turn the tide.
God created the heavens and the earth. And that includes the waves in the ocean. It is this same God who also has control over the waves you and I encounter within our soul. In fact, the Lord of heaven and earth is more than able to help us in any situation.
But the question is this: "Will I turn to the Lord in the midst of my issue, or will I rely upon my own understanding and my own limited strength?"
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Peter regularly witnessed Jesus Christ turning the tide. On one occasion, Peter "got down out of the boat and walked on the water to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' (Matthew 14:29,30)
Peter needed God's help. And you and I can relate to that experience. There are times in life when we need God to turn the tide. We need the Lord to pull us up and rescue us from the sinking feelings threatening to overwhelm us. Thankfully, Jesus was very willing to lift Peter up and bring him safely into the boat.
"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." (Matthew 14:32)
You see, turning to God turns the tide. The Lord is ruler over the wind, the waves, and the situation you find yourself in today. And if you will turn to Him in faith, you will see that God is more than able to assist you and grant you strength in the midst of your weakness.
Whenever we are confronted with a challenge, our natural instinct is to turn to our own understanding. But Scripture presents the correct way to respond.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5,6)
Our own understanding is terribly limited. And that's why we tend to worry so much about the challenges we face, rather than turning to God for assistance. Every time we turn to God, it is a wise decision with far-reaching ramifications.
And while God's response may sometimes seem slow to us, the Lord is always faithful and He will never leave us in our hour of need. In fact, our challenges are necessary in order for us to grow into spiritual maturity.
In the life of a disciple, "suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope." (Romans 5:3,4) It's the only way to grow as a follower of Jesus Christ. Apart from trials, we don't learn perseverance. And without perseverance, our spiritual roots don't go very deep.
Do you consider yourself to be a mature follower of Christ? It certainly is a noble goal for anyone who confesses Jesus as Savior. And the Holy Spirit is after more than you and I can see at the moment.
God sees the big picture, and this is why He allows some pounding waves to enter our life and challenge our faith. Through it all, our loving God grants His children peace and spiritual power.
What are you going through today that has you stressed out and afraid? If you will turn to God, He will turn the tide. As you learn to trust the Lord and "lean not on your own understanding," God comes against the tide of fear that is overwhelming you and He replaces it with His supernatural peace.
God declared in His Word: "I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 45:5)
No wonder every single human being, without exception, would benefit by turning to the Lord. Who else has that kind of power? And who else could possibly turn the tide when we are feeling so overwhelmed?
