I was reading from Ether this morning. The account of the Jaredite's barges being driven by winds to the promised land.
The Jaredites are told to build water-tight vessels to cross the water with, and enter into them, "commending themselves unto the Lord their God." (Ether 6:4)
The verses following struck me.
Paraphrasing:
"...the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow...towards the promised land.
when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again...the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land...and they did sing praises unto the Lord...did thank and praise the Lord all the day long...and the night...because of the multitude of his tender mercies."
So here are these families who have left everything they are familiar with behind them. For 344 days they are tossed to and fro, buried in the depths of the sea and driven forth by the wind--and they rejoice in it!
They found joy in the journey. They recognized the mercies of the Lord during the trial.
They saw the Lord's hand during their suffering, not just after.
It is easy to get upset when the Lord sends wind our way. But without wind, our boat never moves--we don't reach our promised land. We have to have the wind. And in recognizing the purpose behind the wind, and He who provides it-we find joy and peace in the journey.
I love this verse from the hymn Be Still My Soul:
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
I'm grateful for the wind in my life...
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