A beautiful Thursday morning dawned as the ship set out on a journey with a desired destination. The waters were calm and the sky blue as the vessel commenced leaving the harbor. Yet, many hours into the voyage, the ship encountered a fierce storm, rapidly turning the once-secure journey into a perilous one.
By nightfall, intensifying winds strengthened the storm. Beaten and battered by the waves, the vessel began to lose control. The sky was now black, and the fog so thick one could barely see what lay ahead.
As the hours drifted slowly by and the ship was caught up and driven by the wind, the precarious scene began to depict hopelessness. By this time, the captain had abandoned all hope. However, what appeared to be the end of a journey was about to be met by divine intervention.
Way into the night, the captain of the ship spotted a bright light piercing the fog. The light was the beam from a lighthouse that stood beautifully on a nearby shore. The only thing the captain could see was the ray of light as he fought fiercely to gain control of the wheel. After securing control, he steered the ship toward the beam until he reached the safety of the shore.
Due to the effects of the storm, the captain could not envision a shoreline or even a lighthouse to lead the ship to a safe harbor. For a period, the captain listened more to the tempest cries than to any utterances of hope.
We too have been on that same ship at one time or another in our lives—a ship tossed and turned by the waves of a troubling storm—a scene depicting hopelessness versus victory. Recently, for a moment, I was in that ship. I was on a journey in which I felt secure and I thought was heading in a certain direction. All of a sudden, it took an unanticipated turn, and before I knew it, I was caught up in the strength of that storm.
After days of being tossed by the effects of the tempest, I stepped into my closet, sat down on the floor, and cried out to God. Questions began to flow to the Lord, as confusion was attempting to trample out my faith. Had I heard wrong from God? Suddenly, a ray of a light beaming through a very thick fog of uncertainty illuminated my heart, revealing a particular passage of Scripture. The light was none other than God’s personal Word to my situation.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
On this day, I was reminded that God is faithful to His promises, as well as to His child. No storm or thick fog ceases His promises from being brought to fruition. God’s Word was the piercing ray of hope that safely led me to a safe harbor of renewed faith and unshakeable hope. Remember, just because circumstances may appear hopeless does not mean they are hopeless. Suddenly, He will come. Suddenly, His light will pierce through your darkness. Suddenly, your once-out-of-control ship will regain control and veer toward a safe harbor of faithfulness instead of faithlessness. Hold on to God’s promises! Your suddenly is coming!
