ONE WORD TO CALM CHURNING WATERS

There are times life swirls around us. We swim through churning waters brought on by pain, sorrow, conflict, or illness. Events we did not choose. Pain we did not sign up for. Sorrow deep and unexpected. Which leave us feeling confused, hurting, and out of control. Problems sending our comfortable routines, self-confidence, and sense of control into a tailspin.

In these times, as we search for relief and help, we demonstrate wisdom to remember there’s only One who fully understands our circumstances. Only One who sees and knows us at our core. Only One who can give us supernatural strength to persevere. Only One who can truly heal us and rescue us.

Upon this Name we call. Literally. Speaking the name “Jesus” out loud. Whether a whisper or a shout matters not, for He will hear. We may call only once, or countless times a day for weeks on end; as often as we need to remind ourselves He is present. To acknowledge our need of Him. Just pausing to say His name brings peace, restores strength, provides perseverance, and clarifies perspective.

When life roils around us, we must take moments to cease our striving. Like pulling into a roadside rest during an arduous journey, perhaps caught in an unexpected snow storm or dense fog, we pause, take our hands off the wheel, call His name, and soak-in His nearness, for whatever moments the chaos allows. The tensions in our bodies release and stress rolls off, as the reality of “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), God with me, settles into our center. Determination and strength rise up. Our restful pause with Jesus allows us to face a few more days, or minutes, of our struggle.

Are you in a period of prolonged trial? Are you weary and exhausted from your experience? God does not weary of you. You cannot wear Him out with your requests for help and healing. Your cries for resolution and guidance do not exhaust Him. He works on your behalf even when you are silent toward Him. But oh how He loves hearing His name on your lips. Hearing you share the depths of your heart with Him. To watch you raise your focus from your difficulty, to Him. Jesus has already given you access to every spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:7) and weapon for spiritual warfare to get you through this time. You just acknowledge and receive what He provides.

A code of articulate words is not necessary to unlock Jesus’ powerful presence. Acknowledging our need of Him by calling out His name is enough. He knows our heart and our plight. Full of compassion (Psalms 103:8), He desires to walk every minute of this difficult time with us. In the churning, when we find ourselves in the place of our greatest weakness, and realize we have nothing to offer to Jesus but ourselves, with deep love He whispers, “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”  

Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash