One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. (Luke 8:22-24)(NIV84)
"What a blessed thing it is to have Him with us on our voyage across life's sea! There is, however, something even more blessed. It seems to me that the disciples said as it were: "Here is where we can do without His help....We certainly know more about seafaring than He does...so we'll just fix a nice, comfortable spot, here at the stern of the boat, and let Him have a much needed sleep." And so they did. They were having Him with them alright, but only as a passenger. They had yet to learn that He must be the Captain..."All went well with the disciples, and they got on splendidly without Him while the sea was smooth...That is why God sent the storm. ...The storm drove the disciples to Him" (Van Ryn).
Out of the night that covered me
Freed from the fear of sin's dark scroll;
I thank my Savior, for 'twas He
Rescued for aye my precious soul.
Caught in the storms of circumstance,
I oft have winced and cried aloud,
Yet e'er His mighty, loving hands,
Have calmed the soul before Him bowed.
Amid life's sea of bitter tears,
His words of hope, like beacons, stand;
And how His love my being cheers,
As on I sail to Glory-land;
It matters not how soon the end,
My bark will safely reach its goal.
Christ is my Pilot, Master, Friend,
He is the Captain of my soul!
(devotional by Dr. J. Howard Goddard)