TO CHEW ON: "Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." Psalm 107:43
If ever there is a trouble that will cause us to cry out to God, it's one that has us hanging off the cliff edge of disaster. That's the scene of the first vignette of our reading today (Psalm 107:23-30). A seagoing businessman is carrying out his routine duties when along comes a storm that "melts his soul" and has the crew staggering like drunk men. At their wits' end, the sailors call on God, who calms the sea, allowing them to reach them to port.
Have you ever been there—at an emergency place where, unless something changes, unless God intervenes, something terrible will happen? Potential disaster whatever form that takes in our lives, can be a good thing when it draws us to God.
Trouble in the land is another goad that God may use to draw our attention to Him. Whether we are facing problems caused by the forces of nature or bad government, the psalmist reassures us God is big enough to help. He can change the course of nature (Psalm 107:33-35) and is not stymied by any ruler (Psalm 107:39-41).
Yesterday and today we've noted how God uses a variety of problems to drive us to Himself:
- Loss and homelessness (Psalm 107:2-7).
- Rebellion (Psalm 107:10-14)
- Our own foolishness (Psalm 107:17-20).
- Impending disaster (Psalm 107:23-30).
- Trouble in the land (Psalm 107:33-41).
Whatever trouble we're in today, whether it's of our own making or through the actions of others, let's prove our wisdom by going to God in it and looking for His lovingkindness to us through it.
PRAYER: Dear God, I pray that trouble will only draw me closer to You. Please remind me to seek You in it before I panic and go somewhere else to find help. Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
