Psalm 69:1-5, 13-18
God of the Storms

Save me, O God,
      for the waters have come up to my neck.
I sink in deep mire,
      where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
      and the flood sweeps over me.
I am weary with my crying;
      my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
      with waiting for my God.

More in number than the hairs of my head
      are those who hate me without cause;
Many are those who would destroy me,
      my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal
      must I now restore?
O God, you know my folly;
      the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.


But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.
      At an acceptable time, O God,
      in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help
      rescue me from sinking in the mire;
Let me be delivered from my enemies
      and from the deep waters.
Do not let the flood sweep over me,
      or the deep swallow me up,
      or the Pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good;
      according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Do not hide your face from your servant,
      for I am in distress--make haste to answer me.
Draw near to me, redeem me,
      set me free because of my enemies.

New Revised Standard Version

There is only one topic that I can write about today, the day after Hurricane Charley marched its way from Port Charlotte to Orlando and on to Daytona Beach. It was humbling to watch radar images of the approaching hurricane and see how all the forecasters and computer models failed to anticipate the sudden veer to the northeast. It was humbling to watch the windows sag against the winds and hear the wind gusts play the garage door like a bass drum. It was humbling to step outside into the dark after the winds died and see the outlines of downed trees. It was humbling to see the data gathered at nearby Orlando International Airport indicating 105 mph wind gusts, and wonder if my house could have withstood such a force.

Emotionally, I felt so frustrated. It was as if I were in fifth grade again, struggling with school assignments that should have been easy but somehow evaded my concentration. I don't want to have a storm change directions on me--I want to know where the storm is going, and I want to rest secure that I can rely on my knowledge. I was confident in the forecasts that had showed Charley proceeding over Tampa Bay and on into southern Georgia, sparing Orlando from any significant winds. I had studied before the potential for storm surge damage in Tampa--but my studies were in vain. My knowledge failed me, and my security in that knowledge was shown to be foolish. I felt betrayed by my insufficient intellect and my arrogance that failed to consider alternatives. I was frustrated, angered, hurried, frazzled, and scared as the storm bands, laden with potential tornadoes, broke across my sky.

What a metaphor for life. I had grabbed onto information for my security, even when the experts providing the information cautioned not to trust their forecasts. I studied the data to build my confidence in what I could possess and know, rather than recognizing there is so much more Unknown. It is so gratifying to feel like I have control of a situation, and so humiliating to recognize that I don't have control at all. This, my friends, is why I (occasionally?) need storms in my life.

David withstood far more threatening storms in his life than I did yesterday evening, and he knew on Whom to place his trust to weather the storms. In the most fearsome circumstances, in the most unfair conditions, God would come through because God is steadfast and good. Notice in verse 5 David knows that God's rescuing love has nothing to do with David's goodness--"You know my folly"--God will save in spite of how undeserving we are.

David relies on God to rescue him from the deep waters and floods, and in the midst of immense, desperate circumstances, God was there. David relies on God's strength when David feels so parched, weary, and drained. But David, the mighty, cunning, legendary warrior, also relies on God to save him from the many who would destroy and ruin him. I'm okay with trusting God in circumstances where I am weak, but it is much more difficult for me to trust God in areas where I am strong. David was wise enough to trust God just the same in all things, knowing that God's Way was always the best.

Save me, God, from the immense powers of nature that defy our ability to predict or influence them. Save me, God, from taking comfort in my own strength and knowledge instead of relying on You. Save me, God, from earthly danger and spiritual threats, that I would come through every difficulty of my life more obedient to You.