MEDITATION

“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as King forever. May the Lord give strength to His people! May the Lord bless His people with Shalom!” – Psalm 29:10-11

REFLECTION

We serve a great cosmic King who has chosen us to be a part of His kingdom forever. He is in control of all situations and is always using His strength to bless His beloved people with His nothing-broken-nothing-missing peace. It is comforting and assuring to know that God is greater than the floods that have the potential to drown us. He is bigger than the biggest problems we face personally or corporately, and His sovereign command over all things is ultimately aimed at blessing us, even in the flood moments when it feels like we are going to drown. Do we really believe that? Do we really believe that even the floods He allows to figuratively “cover our world” might actually be there to cleanse, purify and nurture new growth for the sake of our ultimate holistic flourishing?

As we are given the gift of faith to believe the promise of God’s Lordship over all things, the Lord Himself really does become the strength of His people (Psalm 28:8). It’s comforting to know that we have a God who has chosen to come close to us in the person of Jesus Christ and experience all of the “floods” that we experience in this chaotic world. The reason He is our strength is because He overcame every one of those floods, even death itself, and we are blessed with Shalom because of this truth. He speaks to the chaotic waters we fear and calms them. We can face anything through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13).

“Listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…’” Isaiah 43:1–3

ACTION

1. Praise God for His Lordship. Thank Him for being a mighty King who blesses His people. Think of all the floods He has brought you through so far in life. Give Him thanks for His presence, power, and provision in the midst of them.

2. Talk to God about some of the floods (hard circumstances) you and those you know are facing right now. Write out these floods as honestly as possible.

3. Ask Him for faith to believe that He is in control of all things and able to rescue you (and those you love) from these chaotic waters threatening to drown you. In faith, ask Him to bring you through these struggles and grow you stronger in Christ. Ask Him for the blessing of His promised Shalom in the midst of it all.

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