Happy New Year?

In the past week or so, I have bid a "Happy New Year" to many of my friends and family, for that is what I wish for them. I want all of my loved ones to be happy and for all of their hopes and dreams to come true this year.

But the fact of the matter is that no one knows what a year will bring. 

We live here, on Planet Earth, in a sin-cursed world and we all know that every day of the year will not be "happy." There will be times of discouragement, sickness, confusion, discord, sorrow, weariness, uncertainty, and maybe even death.

So then . . . what with all that? Do we dread the days ahead? Stay in bed with the covers over our heads? Do we live in fear of what the future will bring?

On the Sea of Galilee
~ photo by our son Ryan ~

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

I have shared this poem before; it is one of my favorites. And I thought of it as I looked at Ryan's pictures at the Sea of Galilee and as I mused on the account of the storm on the sea.

The Age-Long Minute
Amy Carmichael

Thou art the Lord who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow
If only we are in the boat with Thee. 

Hold us in quiet through the age-long minute
While Thou art silent, and the wind is shrill:
Can the boat sink while Thou, dear Lord, art in it?
Can the heart faint that waiteth on Thy will? 

That is the secret to living in the New Year.

The knowledge that, if we are His, He is in the boat.

A quiet trust that He is there, no matter the storm, no matter the wind, no matter the waves.

Even if He is silent.

Even if it appears that He is sleeping.

He is there. 

And He is lovingly in control.

Sea of Galilee
~ photo by Ryan ~

So let us be strong of heart. Let us be resolute! Let us meet the easy and the challenging, the happiness and the sorrow, the calm and the storm of the new year, with quiet confidence in the One who is the ruler of the wind and the waves.