“They stagger from side to side, and stagger like a drunk, and they’re at the end of their minds.” Psalm 107:27. This story begins in verse 23. In verses 23 and 24 we find several holy men on a merchant ship selling their wares. We know they are having a good day because they are praying to God.
But in verses 25 and 26 a sudden storm arises out of nowhere. And it’s big. The storm is so fierce that they fear for their lives.
In verse 27 we see these men thrown so violently that all they can do is hang on. There is nothing they can do to save themselves. They are at their “wits end”.
Like these sailors, sometimes everything goes well in our Christian life. We are praying to God for all the wonderful things he has done for us. Then, out of nowhere, the storms came. And they kept coming. The loads became so huge that you couldn’t see any way out. It seemed like you couldn’t take it anymore. You found yourself screaming, “God, when is this going to stop?” – You were at your wit’s end.
FIVE PHASES WE GO THROUGH WHEN WE ARE IN THE “STORMS OF OUR LIFE”
1. “Wits End” is a place that God sometimes initiates – Notice in verse 5 that God ordered the storm. No matter what storm you’re going through, God put you there. He knew what he was doing. He is never surprised. The good news is that before you had the problem, He had the solution.
He put you there for His purpose. (It’s about Him) (He owns us). “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (God says not to worry. If you love me, find peace knowing that everything It’s going to work just like I planned.)” Novels 8:28
He is trying to produce something in your heart, to bring you to complete faith and trust in Him. Or perhaps to strengthen you for a special ministry that He has a purpose for in your life. Sometimes we think we are waiting for God to show us something, when in reality He is waiting for us to grow up so He can reveal it to us.
2. “Wits End” is a place where God tests us – He allows overwhelming circumstances (a storm) to overtake us. It could be a lost job, an illness, an eviction notice, marital problems, or addictions.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:7. He wants to lead us to the path of obedience, to trust him to bless us. I believe that God is watching us, encouraging us, Brother Ray, you can do it. Trust me that I can hurt you. Sometimes we are so close, but we don’t give up.
Sometimes we don’t pass the test and He can go ahead and help us get through it. But when we don’t, another test comes right after. Here comes a second wave in our storm. If we only trusted him with the first test (wave), the second wave might not come.
3. “Wits End is a place where we sometimes fail the Lord – We fail God when we don’t trust him. When we trust ourselves or others to solve our problems. “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart turns away from the Lord” Jeremiah 17:5.
The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and never passed a test. And God had provided the solutions to all of his problems. When they crossed the Red Sea they rejoiced and praised God, but panicked at the next test when they encountered the bitter waters of Mara.
Israel received forty years of miraculous food, miraculous water, a miraculous cloud by day, miraculous fire by night, miraculous protection, miraculous clothing that never wore out. And yet they still doubted God. And all but two men died in that desert in utter disbelief. God wanted so badly to bring them to Cannan, the land of milk and honey. But they never trusted God with his storms.
4. “Wits End” is a place where God takes control for us. We read in verses 28 and 29 that God took control and calmed the storm and brought them peace.
The sailors had to make two decisions before God took over. First they had to admit to themselves and to God that neither they nor anyone else could help them. Second, they cried out to the Lord, turning only to him.
Sometimes God has to break us, leading us to trust Him, so He can fix us.
5. “Wits End” is a place where our trials become gifts. (after victory) – Sometimes His plan is not what I would choose for myself. I wouldn’t choose to be broke and penniless, to lose my family, or to be homeless (digging dumpsters), or cold or hungry, or addicted, or alone, but I’ve been all of those things. I know the place called “fin de los ingenios”.
I pray that you never experience any of these storms again. But I wouldn’t accept anything for the gifts they brought me.
Thousands are beginning to lead others to Christ through “Bridge Ministries.” We have been given gifts through our trials. Everyone has or will encounter a great tragedy in their life. As Christians, when we find victory over these trials through faith in God, they become gifts that can be used to comfort others and lead them to Christ.
“What a wonderful God we have. He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of all mercy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our tribulations and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are in trouble, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort that God has given us” — 2 Corinthians 1:3,4.