regular day at the beach. When the blasts of billions of tons of water wrecked
the coasts of more than a dozen Asian nations on Dec. 26, 2004, most of the
people on the beaches were totally unaware of the looming danger. In its wake
the massive tsunami claimed more than 200,000 lives in 14 countries and left
millions homeless. It was one of the largest natural disasters in history.
Life can be like
that. Suddenly, without warning, you’re hit with a torrent of trouble. Like the
psalmist, you cry, “All Your waves and billows have gone over me”
(Ps. 42:7, NKJV). Some of life’s
“tsunamis” literally hit home. Sudden shock waves jar us,
pulling us against our will into a sea of trouble. Suddenly we feel overwhelmed
with horrible circumstances. The tranquility of life is disrupted and we wonder
if things will ever be the same as they were.
Calamities prompt us
to ask, “Why?” There are no pat answers. Yet there are answers
for how we can survive these sudden tsunamis. It’s important that we anchor our
attitudes in Scripture. Here are several heart attitudes we should maintain
when faced with the floodtides of trouble that sometimes invade our lives
without warning.
1. Be sure
your “house” is built on the rock of faith and obedience to Jesus
Christ. Jesus warned
that waves of trouble would come. But you can prepare by securing
your life to Christ, the solid rock. Jesus said, “Whoever hears these
sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his
house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the
rock” (Matt. 7:24-25).
2. Anchor to
what doesn’t move. God
promised, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also
heaven.” He guarantees “the removal of those things that are being
shaken” in order that “the things which cannot be shaken may
remain.” We have embraced an unshakeable kingdom, therefore “let us
be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God
is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:26-29, NIV).
3. Remember
that your Christ is greater than your crisis. You may feel completely overwhelmed. Right now
you may identify with this lament that perfectly describes life’s tsunamis:
“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the
seas have lifted up their pounding waves” (Ps. 93:3).
No matter how massive
the waves may be, let your heart cling to the next verse. It’s the master key
to surviving life’s tsunamis: “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise
of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Ps. 93:4, NKJV).
Christ is still in
control. His single command of “Peace, be still!” will calm the most
violent storms of your life. So live in His peace. Jesus said: “Peace I
leave with you, My peace I give to you. … Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
“God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not
fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled. … Be still,
and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted
in the earth!” (Ps. 46:1-2, 10).
About the author: David Shibley is the founder and president of Global Advance (globaladvance.org), an international training ministry that equips tens of thousands of church and business leaders every year in many of the world’s neediest areas. David has ministered throughout America and in more than 50 other nations. He is the author of numerous articles and author or co-author of more than 20 books, including Living as if Heaven Matters (Charisma House).
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