Sharks

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
Sharks

The huge shark that hung in front of a Florida restaurant brought a shiver through my body. Its length was well over two times my height, but it was the rows of sharp, wicked teeth that made me shudder. No wonder a shark attack inflicts horrible damage, if not death. After a closer look, my dinner companions decided it was a model rather than a real, preserved shark. Never mind. That’s much closer than I ever want to come to real living teeth like those. Granted most sharks off our shores aren’t as large as the model shark but they have razor-like teeth that make them efficient predators among sea creatures. The very thought guarantees that I won’t go in the water whenever there is a shark warning.

No siree! But wait. What other predators lurk under the surface of my environment, or hide in my emotional surroundings? Predators I might not notice nor perhaps recognize as a danger. How can I protect myself from all the sharp-toothed perils which lurk in this world? If we consider all the natural dangers then add in all the evil things mankind can conjure up to harm others, we could spend our lives cowering in a corner or hiding under our blankets.

Better to toss off the covers and bring our concerns to our Maker. Prayer is not a wasted activity nor an effort that makes no difference. God hears our prayers. He calmed the stormy sea for His first disciples, and He can calm our fears in this 21st century. His answers and His timing may be different from our desires, but His peace and His love is always available to us who seek Him. Through prayer, we can find that Biblical peace that passes understanding in a world that often appears to be upside down. Prayer helps us glide through the storms of life. Even when we can see the gnashing of sharp teeth and hear the wagging of tongues all around us, remember Psalm. 23:4 ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.…’ All that can touch us is filtered through the faithful, everlasting, overpowering love of God. We can toss off our fears, lift up our arms in praise and adoration of Him, and walk TALL!