God is Enthroned Over the Flood

“The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace” (Psalm 29:10-11).

Dear friends, at the time that I am writing this, the world feels upside-down. The day seems uncertain, especially because so much of the waters we are wading through are uncharted territory. Families around the world have lost loved ones, and many more are cursed with sickness and solitude. A good handful of the earth’s population have quickly installed the merciless Fear as their king, and he is motivating their decisions, their feelings, and their inner cultures.

“But the Lord sits enthroned over the flood.” Isn’t that magnificent news? King Jesus has reigned supremely and firmly through the ups and downs of history’s dramas and tragedies, and while He is always heavily invested, He has never been—and is not now—anxious. He is not wringing His hands in fear. He is not biting His nails in alarm, nor does He need a handkerchief to wipe some sweat off His brow.

Do you remember that old story where Jesus and His friends were sailing across the lake during a storm? Where was Jesus? Asleep. Undisturbed. Unafraid. Not threatened by external realities. You know, I think in times of stormy chaos, I’d like to be curled up next to Jesus, leaning against His chest like a pillow. And come to think of it, He probably wants that, too.

Now, listen carefully to my heart. I am not denying, shrugging off, or minimizing the tragedies of COVID-19 and its disturbing havoc. Jesus was never one to squeeze His eyes shut, plug up His ears, and sing, “I can’t hear you! I can’t hear you!” Instead, Jesus always pointed to a greater reality, the invisible—yet superior—Kingdom of God.

And so we as followers of His way balance two realities. Yes, there is the desperate condition of the world we currently live in, full of tumult and sickness and loss. But somehow even truer is God’s Kingdom, which has always stood as a pillar of life for the sin-sick, a beacon of peace for the anxious, and a mountain of love for the outcast. And the glory of it all is that we are not actually governed by the ways of the world but by the ways of Jesus! While the world is chanting, “Fear, fear, fear!” on every news station and media outlet, we can rest in the sovereignty of Yahweh. Bill Johnson said once, “Just because fear throws a party doesn’t mean you have to show up.” That revs my engine!

Friends, we always must fall in love with—and then re-fall in love with—those two beautiful twin sisters of God’s Kingdom: Faith and Wisdom. Faith and all her adventurous charms, inviting us to risk and dream and hope! Oh, yes! Unless we partner with her, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). And then there’s Wisdom, who complements her twin so elegantly. Wisdom is patient and strategic and discerning, and, when cherished, “she will exalt you, honor you, give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown” (Proverbs 4:8-9). The Word of God even tells us that Wisdom is supreme and that we must pursue her no matter the cost (Proverbs 4:7). Faith and Wisdom never fight against each other, but each twin always holds the hand of the other. I think you know what I mean when I say we must act with both faith and wisdom. We ought not throw caution to the wind, nor should we bow down to fear. Let us be full of faith! And let us be full of wisdom!

So again, “the Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” This would be a good verse to memorize right now. Wherever you are, let the Father kiss your forehead with the kiss of peace. Let Him fuel your spirit with Heaven’s strength.

Rest easy. He’s got this.

My heart,
Josh