In Psalm 46:10 the LORD graciously reminds us to do what we so often fail to remember: “Be still, and know that I am God.” To paraphrase what God is encouraging us to do, this verse is saying,
“Let go of the burden; settle down; carefully look around you, reflect on what you see, and then recognize, bear in mind, remember that I am God.”
Not long ago, I was parked at beautiful, scenic Harris Beach State Park, a ten minute drive from our home (and visible from our back deck — man, are we suffering here in Oregon!).
The sea happened to be stormy and turbulent that day and as I watched the waves crashing against the rocks, coming in then going out, it occurred to me there was much going on beneath the surface of the water — and that they are not completely separate entities — they are one and the same body of water.
You see, the top is exposed to winds and rain; the bottom is pretty much life-as-usual, the things unseen doing their job. In other words: The surface may be turbulent, but underneath things are just as they should be — and go relatively unaffected by the surface commotion.
The lesson for us is pretty simple, its application critical: Things aren’t always as they appear to be, at least on the surface. The “foundation”, the underwater world of the ocean, is stable and able to have its many parts perform their function without being thrown off, whacked out by what’s happening topside.
So it can be for us: The surface storms in life come and go but the Foundation, Christ, is stable and unmovable. No storm comes to stay; rather every one of them comes to pass!
Storms do have a purpose: replenishing our oceans, changing the shoreline, and so forth. The storms of life also come and bring with them necessary changes — and with those the blessings of a kind, caring, Sovereign Creator.