Waters May Rise (Waiting on the Lord)
- Chelsea Amber
- Jan 31
- 3 min read
Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
It was 6 a.m. when the phone rang at my friend and producer Fraser Campbell’s house. It wasn’t good news: their basement suite was flooding and their tenants’ belongings were getting ruined! The next couple of days were spent frantically problem-solving and asking God for wisdom. Eventually, Fraser was exhausted and needed some time alone with the Lord. He sat down at the piano and the song “Waters May Rise” was born.
Fraser wasn’t alone in dealing with rising waters. Jesus’ disciples sailed through massive waves that made them think they lived their last day.
After a long day of ministering to large crowds, they finally had a chance to have some peace as they crossed to the other side of the lake in their boat… But it was only a matter of time before that rest was disrupted by a huge storm. To make matters worse, their rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, was asleep and not helping them! They woke him up and asked, “Don’t you care?!”
How many times have I asked God that question amid a storm? Sometimes He calms the waves as he did in the boat that night with the disciples. Other times He gives me the grace to go through it like the Apostle Paul who referred to an issue that God wouldn’t remove (2 Corinthians 12:6-10), or Jesus who asked if He could opt out of dying on a cross (Matthew 26:37-39).
When God opts for grace to face it rather than resolution, I catch myself asking, “Don’t you care?!” Perhaps you have asked the same question.
In those moments we can remember the character of God. I don’t understand why He calms some storms and allows others, but I know that His heart doesn’t change. Here’s what we can be confident in:
God cares deeply for you and me. (1 John 3:1)
He weeps when the ones He loves are hurting. (John 11:33-36)
God doesn’t change even when our circumstances do. (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17)
He will give us grace to walk through difficult seasons when we feel weak. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, so we can trust Him. (Isaiah 55:8-9)
One day we will see clearly. Like looking at the back of a rug, the design of our lives will make more sense on the other side of eternity. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Most of us are not perfect at fully trusting God when waters rise. I have a feeling this will be a lifelong journey as we face more challenges in the future. But I am thankful for God’s patience as we grow in this area. I am thankful that even as the waters rise around us, we can learn more and more to fully put our trust and hope in Jesus.
REFLECTION: What characteristic(s) of God do you hold on to when waters rise?
LYRICS:
Waters May Rise
By Fraser Campbell and Chelsea Amber
Verse 1:
Though the rains fall and the floods rise
Through the dark night, You are there
Though I feel lost, You are faithful
You are present
O God
Chorus:
Though the waters may rise and the storm sets its eye on me
I'll wait for You, I will wait for You
And though the waves may grow tall, and the current is strong
I will wait for You, I will wait for You
Verse 2:
Through this journey You are working
For Your glory and my good
Though I can’t see, where You’re leading
I will trust in Your ways
Chorus
Bridge:
I will set my eyes on You
I will find my Hope in You
(x3)
Chorus
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