Imagine being the captain of a historic sailing ship – a master of commerce and an expert in trade throughout the Mediterranean. You live to taste the salt in the air, to roam from port to port, from culture to culture, bringing value, goods, and trade to each. You perform a greatly-needed service, and your work is honorable.
And, let’s just assume that you’re greatly blessed and good at what you do. Your business has prospered as you have prospered others.
And, while we’re assuming, let’s just assume that you recognize the source of all your blessings, and seek to live gratefully and humbly before your Creator.
Too bad.
Storm’s coming anyway.
Here’s how it’s described by the psalmist:
[The storm] made the waves rise high.
The sailors aboard ship rose toward the sky.
They plunged into the depths.
Their courage melted in the face of disaster.
They reeled and staggered like drunks,
and all their skills as sailors became useless. (Psalm 107:25-27, GW).
Okay, so I doubt that you’re a sea merchant aboard a sailing ship. But you are engaged in commerce. Even if you don’t own a business, you’re still “You, Inc.” Like a bee in pollination, you take goods and money from one place and distribute it out to others, hopefully hanging on to a little along the way. Whether or not there’s a sign on your door, you ARE in business for yourself.
So how’s that sea been for you lately? Have you encountered some of those up-and-down experiences? Any “plunging into the depths,” or “melting courage?” Have you reached a place where it feels as though your skills at making or managing money or business have become useless?
You aren’t alone. Nor are you the first. Here’s some encouragement from across the generations. Listen to the testimony of the merchants who faced the perfect storm and lived to tell about it.
In their distress they cried out to the Lord.
He led them from their troubles.
He made the storm calm down,
and the waves became still.
The sailors were glad that the storm was quiet.
He guided them to the harbor they had longed for (Psalms 107:28-30)
I don’t care if you sell insurance, swing a hammer, or teach Junior High Science. If you look to a regular source of income and provision, this speaks to you
Before I tell you how cool God is in how he took care of Popeye and his friends, I should let you in on one other teensy weensy bit of information.
That storm?
God did it.
“He spoke, and a storm began to blow” (Psalm 107:25).
Don’t toss this off on the devil. He gets enough credit as it is.
Also, don’t blame it on somebody’s sin. Others can and do testify of problems and storms of their own making – sin pits they’ve dug for themselves that only a gracious God can get them out of. But not here. These violent seas weren’t the result of Satan or someone’s sin. God caused an up-and-down experience that melted their souls and brought them to wits’ end.
Again, while this speaks to a literal seagoing experience, I believe it also speaks to anybody who has ever conducted business of any type. Things happen that are of God’s making, and it creates “stormy winds” and highs and lows that are baffling, The phrase “their soul melted away in misery” is certainly something I can relate to, even in ministry. Heck, even this week.
Oh, and how ‘bout them “it’s-summer-we-can’t-get-no-new-refineries-blame-the-Chinese-and-damn-your-SUV” gas prices? Save us, Obiwan Obama! You’re our only hope!
Oh, sorry. Where was I?
As others had before them in this psalm, the merchants cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distresses. In practical terms:
- He stilled the storm. He stopped the cause of the trouble.
- He hushed the waves. He quietened the effects of the trouble.
- He lifted the spirits of the people. They were glad because they were quiet.
- He guided them to their desired location (haven). He took them where they wanted to go all along, in safety and peace.
Not a bad way for you to pray for your place of business – even if you’re not the captain of the ship. Why not ask God to stop the cause of your trouble?
In Lubbock, a notoriously dry region still dependent on big-dollar agriculture, we pray for rain. Yes, people do heckle, mock, and express their embarrassment at a bunch of hayseeds stupid enough to interrupt the management of the universe for a change in the weather. But they’d dang well better be doing their mocking from inside or with an umbrella, because when we pray for rain around here, God sends it!
If gas prices are such a big deal, ask God to lower them. Or to lower what you have to spend on gasoline. If climate change or global torching is a concern, ask God to stop it.
But shouldn’t we do something about it? Doesn’t God help those who help themselves? Isn’t economic and climate stuff the fruit of evil human hands? Maybe, no, and maybe. The fact remains, solutions are beyond your enlightened brain and wringing hands. So why not pray and ask God to shut down the cause and the effects of the storm? The worst He can tell you is, “no.”
While you’re at it, Molly Brown, ask God to lift your spirits and use you to lift the spirits of those around you. Oh, and remember that God’s about the destination as well as the journey. And He’s bringing you safely toward His harbor – even if it looks storm-tossed and crazy under your sails right now.
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If I could humbly add a little bit to this line.:
“If gas prices are such a big deal, ask God to lower them. Or to lower what you have to spend on gasoline. ”
Be specific! Sometimes it is about the little ways you ask. Instead of just asking God to lower the amount you spend on gas make sure you mention how that would work best for you. Like, say “I would like to get a good job closer to home”. Otherwise you may end up walking across town. Sure, you spend less but I can bet you would have preferred a different lowering method.
Now this is not to say that God is always going to do the least pleasurable solution to your situation but maybe you needed to get in shape and that was a good way to get you off of the couch, Mr. Potato. (looking directly into the mirror)
My second comment is: Be lazy. (not to extreme, of course)
However, I find that by being too lazy to worry makes me a really happy person, and have leaned to “let go and let God”. I heard that from someone that is probably much smarter than me but he is still worrying and I don’t.
Let me also mention that this does not mean that I do not care or try hard to do my best. It is just that when I have “honestly” reached my limit of knowledge/funds/will/strength/patience/(anything else you might want to add) I simply do not worry about the rest. I know that it will work out for the best in the long run no matter how much I worry about it or try to mess it up on my own.
I digress.
I am getting more into a faith discussion than what I think this post was originally intended but that is where I went.
kenSwitzer
Ken – My experience is that the Lord responds to us on the level we ask. If we ask generally, he’ll answer generally. But as you say here, if we ask specifically, he’ll answer specifically. Great reminder.
Too lazy to worry? I love it!