MEET HIM AT THE HELM

(Post by: Lilly Hobbs)

Have you run into the arms of Jesus this week? I don’t know what’s been weighing on your heart, what burdens you might be carrying, or if you’re just tired of rolling with the punches of life, but the one thing I do know is this… Jesus isn’t far from you.

I read this quote by one of my favorite old, seasoned preachers the other day. You certainly know of him if you’ve been around here even just for a few weeks. Spurgeon once said, “My heart, run to Him afresh tonight, whatever your present grief may be. Jesus feels for you; Jesus consoles you; Jesus will help you.” 

How comforting are these truths today, my friend? Jesus feels for you. Jesus consoles you. Jesus WILL help you.

My prayer list this week has been a bit daunting, a bit overwhelming. I continue to pray these big, bold prayers for those who are facing insurmountable odds and unforeseen circumstances, and I struggle to even find the words to intercede for them.

I was brought back to the book of James. James begins his letter to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad with an unanticipated focus. Following his greeting, James states that they will surely endure challenges as Believers. He explains that these challenges will result in greater maturity if they are willing to “consider it all joy” (1:2).

This leads into James 1:5-8 in which he challenges them to ask the Lord for wisdom. When he states, “If any of you lack wisdom,” he is not proposing that most of them have it together in such a way that they have no need of wisdom while a couple of them do not. I believe he is pointing out the fact that we all lack wisdom when we face difficult trials. The problem comes when we don’t immediately recognize our desperate need for God’s wisdom. So, the “wisdom” James is talking about refers to the wisdom each of us need to endure trials with God’s joy. Only then will we be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (1:4). 

To come to God, in the midst of tragedy and trial, we must humble ourselves and admit that we alone do not know what we need to know in order to live joyfully in the face of hardship.

I think we could all agree that it is certainly much easier to steer a boat in calm seas, and it’s a completely different matter to steer it in seventy mile-per-hour winds with forty-foot waves. In fact, any ordinary chap can steer the boat on a clear, sunny day, can’t he? However, it takes a true helmsman when conditions are less than perfect.

The good news is that Jesus is a true helmsman. He doesn’t ask us to figure life out on our own or to “fix” all the daily problems we encounter without His help. No, not at all.

I once heard Stephen Manley say, “Christianity is not just all of Jesus and none of me, or all of me and none of Him. It’s all of Him and all of me. We merge!”

Sure, Jesus wants us to surrender the helm to Him knowing He will do a much better job than we ever could, but He still wants us along for the adventure.

The seas may be rough, they may be tiring. However, Jesus WILL help you.

Even if all you can say is “Jesus”, that name in and of itself is more than enough. There’s no need to utter another word.

Run to Him afresh. Meet Him at the helm.

I’m standing at your door
My heart is calling yours
Come fall into My arms
You’re weary from it all
Been running for too long
I’m here to bring you home

I’m reaching out, I’ll chase you down
I dare you to believe how much I love you now
Don’t be afraid, I am your strength
We’ll be walking on the water, dancing on the waves

(Dancing On The Waves – We The Kingdom)

SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

= Why is it crucial to look to God for wisdom, rather than trusting our own feelings?

= What are you going to do differently?