23 Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
24 They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His [o]wonders in the deep.
25 For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves [p]of the sea.
26 They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
27 They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And [q]were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
29 He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves [r]of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His [s]wonders to the sons of men!
32 Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders.
Few things are as powerful as the sea, and few things are as frightening when it shows that power. But really, as the psalmist shows us, it is a reflection of the power of God himself. The waves don’t move by themselves, they must be stirred by an “outside force”. It can be more frightening because there is a vulnerability in trusting a boat out on the ocean, and you’re only as safe as that boat’s ability to withstand the immense pressures put upon it.
As the psalmist tells us of those who were in grave danger, and cried out to God, it reminds me of the story of John Newton. He was captain of a slave trading ship, and as they neared home in England, a sudden storm overtook them. He was tossed about in the massive storm, and his entire crew was in danger while a hurricane threatened to sink their ship. As he attempted to save them all, and steer the ship through the night, he realized there was nothing he could do to save them.
It was up to God to save them, and so he cried out to the God he had denied for many years, and God preserved their boat through the storm. While they may not threaten imminent death, the storms of life are no less dangerous. When we feel overwhelmed, and vulnerable, there is only one place to turn.
If you’re in a storm, cry out to God, honestly and sincerely, as John Newton did. He not only has you in His hand, but He controls the very wind and waves. And when you make it through, give thanks to God, as Newton also did, with many songs of praise. Give thanks always, in all things, even the hard things, and soon they won’t be so hard to bear, as the Storm Master bears you up above the waves.