STORMS ON THE HORIZON                                        Matthew 8:23-28

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (vv26-27)

Our  son, Josh, is a commercial salmon fisherman in Kodiak, Alaska. Some time ago he sent me a photograph he took of a tiny vessel a few hundred yards ahead of his boat moving through a narrow pass. Ominous storm clouds loom on the horizon. But a rainbow, the sign of God’s providence and loving care, stretches from one side of the pass to the other, encircling the little boat.

The photograph reflects our earthly voyage: We sail into an uncertain future, but we are surrounded by the faithfulness of God.

Jesus’ disciples were surrounded by a storm, and He used the experience to teach them about the power and faithfulness of God (Matthew 8:23-27) We seek answers for the uncertainties of life. We watch the future growing closer and wonder what will happen to us there. Puritan poet John Keble captured this in one of his poems in which he watched the future as it drew near. But as he watched he was “waiting to see what God will do.”

Whether young or old we all face uncertain futures. Heaven answers: God’s love and goodness encircle us no matter what awaits us.

We wait and see what God will do. David Roper (ODB)

PRAYER LINE: What do you need to trust God with today? Do as David did, praise God for His faithfulness So David sang “a hymn of praise to our God in times of difficulty, we too can look to our powerful God for the stability he brings.

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We sail into the uncertain future surrounded by the faithfulness of God.