Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
Psalm 42:7
The Shallow to The Deep
Start by being silent. Just be still and listen for God’s voice.
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Picture the ocean. What does the shallow mean to you? Is it a place of relief or invitation? What areas in your life feel like they are in the shallow? What causes you to linger in that place?
The shallow water is refreshing and safe, a bit sandy but cool as it trickles over us. It is there we may discover a sense of invitation, of longing. Perhaps this is what the psalmist means when he says, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” (Ps. 42:1).
Do you have a sense that God is calling you to leave the shallow and take a step into the unknown, the whitewater, the waves, the deep? What journey are you on or what stands before you? There may be fear of the vast ocean before you, but do you have a sense of what God might be calling you into; where he may be calling you to deepen your faith and press in?
Jesus Calms the Storm
The story of Jesus calming the storm is found in Matthew 8:23-27. Read through this passage slowly multiple times, picturing yourself in the story and asking yourself the following questions:
• Where or who are you in the story?
• What are your feelings about the storm?
• What emotions are you experiencing?
23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.
27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” – Matthew 8:23-27
After reading the passage slowly a few times, spend some time being still. Don’t try to manufacture answers at this point – just be still and listen.
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Now ask yourself the following questions:
• What stands out to you?
• What storms has Jesus allowed in your life?
• Explore your feelings about the storms and how/why you may or may not have cried out to Jesus.
• How did (or didn’t) he respond to you? To the storm?
• Is there a storm in your life right now? Does Jesus seem to sleep while you endure it, or is he active and present with you in it?
• What does God have for you in the waves? Is there something He may want to purge or bring to your attention in order to mature you; to grow your faith in Him?
• Jesus rebuked the disciples for a lack of faith in the storm. Do you sense Jesus responding to your cries for help with love, compassion, and patience? Imagine a parent rebuking a child. Can you receive Jesus’ words as such.
• What if God doesn’t stop the storm?
• Is it enough to know He is WITH you, beside you, in the boat with you?
Conclude in silence, listening for God’s voice of promise, love and affirmation that he will never leave you in the storm.
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Following is some scripture to help guide your time… or to come back to later:
• In 2 Samuel 22:5, David says “the waves of death swirled about me”
• Psalm 88:7 says “you have overwhelmed me with all your waves”
• Psalm 107:29 – God “stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed”
• Read Psalm 42. Verse 11 concludes with “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”