"...and the waters receded."

"But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded." - Genesis 8:1

As we were flying over the Rocky Mountains on our trip to California the other day I was really struck by the overwhelming appearance of flood evidence there is just in the mountains. I looked down over Utah and saw these great peaks poking up through flat desert as if there had been a tremendous amount of sediment settling all around them. I saw all of the ridges that had been eroded out from tremendous amounts of water flowing off of them. While I know I'm not expressing all that was in my mind at the time, it was indeed overwhelming.

But you know, I realized that it's a lot like my life. There have been times in my life where my sin has angered a righteous God and as punishment for my sin, it has seemed like the flood waters have covered me. I felt like I was drowning and there was no land in sight. And I had no one to blame but myself since it was my foolish heart that got me into the mess I was in. Sometimes it's not my sin that causes the problems, but the sin of others that affects me. Regardless of the source, it still must be endured.

But we endure all things for a season. And eventually the waters began to recede. The sense of hopelessness began to slowly fade. Just as it took quite a long time for the waters of the flood to fade away. It took somewhere around five and a half months for the water to dry up completely. Psalm 119:50 says "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." God will indeed preserve me. He won't let the flood of whatever emotions are surrounding me prevail. He will overcome whatever I face.

But you know, as the flood waters receded, there was still evidence on the earth of that catastrophic event. The land was scarred. It didn't look like it did prior to the flood. My life is similar. When I am faced with the effects of sin, it doesn't come out on the other end looking the same. And hopefully He has taught me a host of things during the process so that I truly don't look the same.

So Lord, I know at times the waters will come. Sometimes they will be worse than others. Sometimes I will cause it by my foolish actions, and sometimes they may come from someone else. But regardless, your promise preserves my life. And that promise is eternal life with you to those who have called upon your name and accepted your gift of salvation. Father, if I find myself in that "boat" again, please don't let me focus on the water, but rather on my my life and what you are teaching me through it. Throughout Psalm 119 the writer asks you to teach him your ways and statutes and decrees so that he could obey them. Lord, do the same with me. Teach me to become more like you and never let me come through looking the same as before. Change me to the very core and make me more like you.