Beth Stedman

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Calm the Sea, Lord

Today I feel tired… and uncertain. My thoughts feel scattered. I feel worried even though I know that this dark and unclear path is the path that God Himself is leading us down. I decided to do the prayer on Sacred Space today and the verse for the day was this:

Matthew 8:23-27 And when Jesus got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

I felt God speaking to me in it. “Yes, there is a storm brewing, yes, the waves are crashing, but Bethany, I am here and I will protect you. Come to me.” After reading the passage I wrote this (using the I am Template from Kathy Escobar’s site – though I admittedly didn’t follow the rules exactly):

i am easily scared and distracted i wonder… What God is calling me to? i hear whispers on the wind i see waves crashing against my tinny boat i want direction, guidance, and safety i am confused and uncertain i pretend that I am in control i feel scared, unsure and small i touch the sleeping Christ beside me i worry that the waves will crash in around me i cry “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” i am listening, Lord, lead me i understand that I am one of little faith i say “Oh, Lord, you are my help and my salvation, my refuge in times of trouble, my guide in times of uncertainty.” i dream of a new role, a new calling… a calm sea i try to listen, trust and obey i hope to become that which he calls me to be i am His child

Rejoicing in the journey - Beth Stedman

Photograph by Beth Stedman