When the Waves Keep Crashing

If you've ever been bombarded by the relentless waves of a difficult marriage, a stubborn physical illness, a serious financial crisis, or a your teen's scary choices, then you understand how difficult it is to keep standing when the waves refuse to abate.

Getting knocked down over and over is painful. And exhausting.

And pain and exhaustion makes me want to curl up in my bed. Forever. I mean, face it--it's not easy to move forward when your hope is sopping wet, and your soggy faith squeaks and gushes with every step.

When the waves keep crashing, we need to cling to the only stable anchor we have. {Jesus}

One of the ways we do that is to pray specifically, which isn't easy when we're overwhelmed. But if we will cry out to the Lord, He will hear us and He will be with us. Below you'll find a short but powerful scripture-based prayer that will enable you to stand, even when a tsunami threatens.

Father,

When I am in distress, Your word says that You hear my voice and that You rush to my aid, and You draw me out of many waters. Oh God, You deliver me and are my stay and support. (Psalm 18: 6 & 16, 17) You are my rock, my fortress, and my defense. (Psalm 18:2)

I'm so grateful that You not only know what I'm going through, but You understand my thoughts. (Psalm 139:2) I'm so relieved that you never misunderstand me or condemn me! You sympathize with me, console and comfort me in every trouble, calamity, and affliction. (2 Corinthians 1:2-3)

Lord, thank you for healing the wounds in my heart and curing my pains and sorrows. (Psalm 147:3) God, thank you for shielding my heart, (Genesis 15:1). You have heard my desire and longing and You strengthen my heart. (Psalm 10:17)

You are near to me as I call upon You. (Psalm 145:14) You cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, and You cause me to know the way I should walk, for I lift my inner self up to You. (Psalm 143:8)

When I am afraid I will have confidence and put my trust and reliance on You. (Psalm 56:3)I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until calamities and destructive storms have passed. (Psalm 57: 1b)

Lord, You are my strength and my impenetrable shield; my heart trusts, relies on, and confidently leans on You and I am helped! Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise You! (Psalm 28:7)

Lord, I lift the situation that concerns me to You, and I release it into Your hands. God, intervene as only You can. Change hearts, change minds, bring truth and wisdom, give grace, and move in the circumstance. Establish Your will, bring freedom, bring deliverance, and glorify Yourself in this situation.

Thank you that I have peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition as my heritage as a servant of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17b) Now capture my gaze and help me to keep my focus on You, and not on the waves. Let Your peaceful presence prevail in my life. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (that is, sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was immediately a great calm -- a perfect peacefulness. (Mark 4:39)