Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR HOUR
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill.
For March 6, 1904.

Topic: chow CHRIST STILLS THE STORMS
OF LIFE" Psalms 107 :23-31
%. They that go down to the sea in
ships, that do business in great waters.
"A. These see the works of the Lord and
his wonders in the Deep
20. For He commandeth and raiseth the
stormy wind which lifteth up the waves
thereof.
rs. They mount up to the heaven, they
90 down again to the depths; their soul is
melted because of trouble.
n. They reel to and fro, and stagger
like drunken man. and are at their wits
end.
%. Then they cry unto the Lord in their
trouble. and He bringeth them out of their
distresses.
o. He maketh the storm calm, so that
the waves thereof are still.
30. Then are they glad because they be
quiet SO He bringeth them unto their de-
sired haven.
81. Oh, that men would praise the Lord
for His goodness and for His wonderful
works to the children of men!
The story is told of a ship In distress at
sea. The captain had done all he could to
save the situation. but in vain. At last he
them that they must pray. And has 1t
come to that!' exclaimed one terror
stricken passenger. wringing hands of dis
may.
We tell this story and laugh over the in
consistency, but is it not after all the COM
mon way Of looking at things? When we
get to such pass that we are driven to
pray about a thing 1t is often because we
fee! there is no possible hope and we try
prayer a last resort. 1t is for this rea-
son that God often has to command ard
raise the storm, and lift up the waves
upon US, that we may be driven to cry out
in our distress and feel our dependence
upon Him; for alas. SO long as we car
sail pleasantly on and guide our own ship
safely to land we are too prone to forget
the Lord. 1t may be that this is often the
reason for storms that come into our lives,
because we have forgotten God.
Isn't this picture vivid? How like the
last trouble we passed through-or are now
passing? You have felt your little life
bark rise on the crest of a great horrible
wave of blackness and dread and have
sunk with 1t down to the depths until your
very soul was melted within you and you
scarce expected to live from moment to
moment. You have felt yourself reel to
and fro. your brain whirling. you not know
ing what to do which way to turn, how TO
take the next step, or If. indeed, there
would be any next step to take. You have
been at your wits end many and many
time. Was 1t not the case that you had
been forgetting God somewhat? Not that
you had consciously wandered away from
Him before your trouble came, but when it
was upon you YOU you uiu iol
have the calm sweet assurance of His pres
ence with you as He had been at former
times. Is it not so?
And then. when there was no other way
to turn when night was black and business
dead failure. when friends forsook, and
stories of SANDER flew about you like birds
of evil omen, when death stared you or
your loved ones in the face. or destruction
and dire disaster came near and threaten
ed. and your heart was. sick unto death
with dread then you cried unto the Lord
in your trouble. Or did you? II You had
ever rightly known Him and His power
you surely did then.
You turned to Him with a feeling that 1t
was hopeless even to pray; that not the
God of heaven in His power could help
your whole soul, you ''cried" to the Lord
You called with the abnormal strength OF
the terror-stricken whose only hope Is in
that call. You scarce expected Hin to
hear, for you began to realize your feeble
worthlessness and His mightincss. You
doubted how He could care for and stoop
to help just you Yet in your blindness
and helplessness you cried.
Do you remember the swift relief the
sudden sweet surprise that came to you
when He brought you SO easily out of your
dstresses? The morning dawned SO quiet
Iy, 80 naturally-the storm, calm and the
waves thereof still-that you almost doubt
ed what had been but the moment before
Yes we all know that deep gladness. that
wondering thankfulness that fills the heart
when such q miracle - quietly wrought for
us. and we sail smoothly into r-desired
haven" just az we had planned before the
storm arose. In our wonder and joy over
the peace our God has wrought we VOW In