I live on a fairly large lake that connects to Lake Michigan. For most of my life I have lived near the Great Lakes. They are absolutely beautiful, but can also be deadly. When you spend anytime on a Great Lake, whether it be Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie or Ontario, you are forced to respect the power of the water. When you add inclement weather into the mix, these waters can be absolutley frightening. In fact, there are estimated to be over 10,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes (Marine Insight, 2010-2020). “Storms can be more difficult to navigate in the Great Lakes than in the Ocean (ibid).” Lake Superior, especially, is prone to rogue waves, waves that are large, dangerous and unexpected. What makes a rogue wave so dangerous, is the fact, that many times, it can’t be predicted. You are sailing along in calm waters and then out of the blue, a rogue wave appears and wreaks havoc with your boat.
Isn’t that the way it happens in life? You have made a life plan, you are working the plan and then, wham! A rogue wave hits you and all of a sudden you have gone through plans A, B, C and thrown the plan out the window. How do you right yourself when you find yourself in turbulent times? Even if you included God in your plans, and know you are living in His will, you can still be blindsided. This is because, Satan roams this earth and He doesn’t like it when God’s people are living lives that honor the Lord. He tries everything in his power to derail Godly people.
Why Me?
The first question many ask is, “Why me?” It is good to look into our own lives, to reflect on our actions and make sure that our motives are righteous. If something comes to light, we need to ask God for forgiveness and move on. However, we will still need to live with the consequences of our sin. But we don’t need to worry. God will be right beside us, urging us on through the Holy Spirit, to make right what we have done wrong.
However, sometimes we are hit with a rogue wave through no fault of our own. When this happens, we will not get an answer to the question, “Why me?” So then what? Asking “Why me” becomes counterproductive because it causes us to wallow in self-pity. We need to take time to process the turbulence, but then take steps to right the ship of our lives.
Righting Your Life
So you feel like a turtle lying on your back with your legs up in the air. Just as a turtle can turn itself over with lots of effort, so can you. However, isn’t it easier if someone comes along and picks up the turtle and puts it right side up on its feet? That’s what it is like trusting in God. Psalm 46 is comforting to read when you need reassurance that God has not forgotten you in the middle of your troubles.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging. (v. 1-3)
It’s so beneficial to calm down first when you are in the center of the turmoil. It is better to be calm, look to God and then act, rather than react to your tumultuous situation. God knows how He created us. He knows that for many of us, our first instinct is to react, instead of calmly assessing the situation. Look what He says, later on in Psalm 46: 10a:
Be still, and know that I am God…
This verse has helped me so much. It helps me remember that God is in control, not me, and He is the God of the impossible. When something seems impossible to fix, God can take it as an opportunity to work a miracle and show us His glory. Therefore, be calm, and pray for a miracle with the expectation that He will answer your prayer. Then turn over off your back and live your life for God’s glory.
One of the best things you can do when his by a rogue wave of life is to take a deep dive into God’s Word. This is a great way to get to know Him better. The really only cool thing about COVID-19 is that it has made us adapt to a pandemic. One of the results is that many more Bible studies are popping up online. Enroll in one, and study God’s Word with others in your community and with others from around the world without ever leaving your home.
Pray for friends and family and get involved as much as possible with helping others. It is surprising, but one of the best ways to right your life is to get involved in the lives of others. In this way, you turn your focus from yourself, and your complaints outward to positively help others. When you help someone else, your outlook on life improves. I know, it seems counterintuitive, but it works.
As you focus on God, and His will for your life, God will right your life as you never expected. Along the journey, there will be rough waters, but God will steer you tino still waters where you can enjoy the cruise of your life.
References
Marine Insight, 2010-2020. 10 Great Lakes Shipwrecks. https://www. marineinsight.com/maritime-history/10-great-lakes-shipwrecks/.
Photo credit: crew-center.com. May 11, 2018. Record-breaking 78 feet freak wave recorded in South Pacific. https://crew-center.com/record-breaking-78-feet-freak-wave- recorded-south-pacific.
