I wasn't thinking about this verse the day I started out across the lake in a borrowed outboard motor boat, accompanied by my malamute, Skipper, a four year old boy and a six year old girl—-not mine. It was a beautiful summer afternoon. The children wanted to get some ice cream. The nearest store was across the lake. No problem. I helped the children into their life jackets, put on my own, and off we went. Although I wasn't very practiced at handling the boat, I wasn't entirely a novice. And I knew that the children were accustomed to boat travel. So I felt confident.

When we were about halfway across the lake a wind arose. That was fine. It was only a half hour trip from one side of the lake to the other, so I estimated that I would be at the opposite shore in about ten more minutes. However, the wind had other plans. It began tossing the boat from side to side, while the waves grew bigger and bigger. I became frightened but tried not to show it. But the dog and the children must have detected my fear. Before long I had two hysterical kids and a nervous dog on my hands. Skipper started thrashing around in the boat; the girl started screaming out her rage at me for starting out in the first place; and the boy blamed me for causing the wind. I was screaming back at them to be quiet. The only one who listened was the dog. Foremost in my mind was, “How was I going to explain to the parents of the children why I drowned their babies?” But then the thought stuck me: I wouldn't have to. I would be drowned too.

It was a terrifying experience. I knew there was no hope. All the other boats had made it to the shore and I was the only one on the water. Too frightened even to pray, I just kept screaming at the children to be quiet. And then, out of nowhere a large outboard motor boat appeared, threw me a rope and pulled me to shore. God saw my plight, even though I had not called on Him, and sent me a refuge from the storm. The children and the dog got their ice cream. Peace was restored.

Daily we have terrifying experiences thrown our way--starting a new job; being unemployed and having to look for a job; newspaper headlines. Name your own terrifying experience here. Whatever the situation is that frightens you, put your trust in the One who stills the water.

He’s the Master of the water.
He’s the Master of the land.
Whatever hardship comes along,
I’m in the Savior’s hand.
No wave can overflow me,
No storm can overwhelm.
I’ll trust my life to Jesus.
It is He who’s at the helm.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth on thee…Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength…” Isaiah 26:3, 4.

© Helen Dowd