He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
— Psalm 107:29–31
The Bible is full of stories of God helping people in need. There are stories of people who were destitute and who had no hope. Daniel had a king and some lions that he had some serious concerns about. David had a giant to face. The prodigal son found himself in a far country and in great need. Some were on ships that were being tossed about in great storms, and they feared for their very lives. There are a lot of stories of how God worked to help and save.
In Max Lucado’s book He Still Moves Stones, Lucado asks why the reader thinks there are so many stories like that in the Bible. Are they there so we can read them and be thankful for what God did in the past? That is a partial purpose. The purpose is to tell us what God does. The goal of these stories is not to just help us look back with amazement, but to also look forward with faith.
It is a powerful thing to realize that you do not have to go searching to read about how God has helped others. If you are a child of the King, you have experienced the hand of our God in your life. You can testify that you have experienced the fact that your God is for you and near you. You are in the middle of writing your story. Many of you can give testimony to the power and the help of God. You don’t have to read about it. You have experienced it.
Today, if you are currently writing a chapter in your story where the Lord has led you to a great victory, give thanks and praise. If you are in a chapter that is filled with storms and fears, remember the past victories of God in your life. Remember the stories in the Bible that you may have read since you were a child. Don’t give up. Live in faith. God has worked powerfully and positively in the lives of his children in the past, and he will do it again.
He still speaks, helps, encourages, forgives and saves. Let’s be thankful for that today.