At midday, on 11th March 1861, a rogue wave struck the lighthouse on Eagle Island off the coast of Co. Mayo and smashed 23 window panes, washing some of the lamps down the stairs and damaging beyond repair the reflectors with broken glass. It is estimated that for that damage to occur on the uppermost part of the lighthouse the waves would have had to surmount a seaside cliff measuring 40 metres and a further 26 metres of lighthouse structure. The light was restored the following night with a reduced number of lamps and reflectors. So much water cascaded down the tower in the incident that the keepers couldn’t open the door at the base so they had to drill holes in it to let the water out!
Our lives may feel chaotic and stormy. We are barely able to hang on, we think that this is the end and we are going under, yet we are reminded in Psalm 93 of the immovable majesty of our God. Though “the floods have risen up” (verse 3) we are assured in verse 4 that “mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore – the Lord above is mightier than these!”
The seas are some of the most powerful forces at work in our world, it’s a force that no person has or will be able to control or tame. Yet our God is mightier than the seas that we see along the shores of Ireland and around the world. He’s mightier than our personal situations and circumstances, He’s mightier than political, economic and social turmoil. I’m reminded of the song “Oceans”:
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail
And fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed
And You won’t start now
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour
Our Heavenly Father brings order to chaos, He remains sovereign and immovable and we need to continue to trust Him and allow ourselves to be continually filled by and led by the Holy Spirit whatever our circumstances look like.
Spirit lead us where our trust is without borders.
Father, we thank You that You are mightier than our circumstances, You bring order to chaos, understanding to confusion and when there is turmoil You bring peace. Father, I pray You would bring calm to all that is going on throughout our land and that we would be led by Your Spirit alone. Father, help us to walk in Your peace knowing that You alone are mightier than even the waves of the sea. In Your name, I pray, Amen.