“Calm my stormy sea with your Wood of Life. Restrain my present way of life with your command. For if your mercy wills it here, Lord, the liquid waves of the sea will become harder than rock. Or if you were to abandon me on dry land, the solid earth will shake in an unstable way and will slide from under me.” (St. Gregory of Narek, Prayer 85)
What a beautiful prayer from St. Gregory of Narek! It’s a reminder that in the storms of life, we need something greater than ourselves to bring peace. This prayer is an invitation for God to step into the chaos of our lives and do what only He can do—bring peace, restore hope, and turn our trials into triumphs.
We all face storms. Maybe your storm is a health challenge, a financial struggle, a broken relationship, or just the uncertainty of what tomorrow holds. It’s easy to feel like you’re being tossed around, like the waves are crashing over your head, and you’re not sure how much longer you can hold on.
But the same God who calmed the stormy seas for His disciples has given us the Cross as a sign of His love. The cross is a reminder that no matter what life throws at us, we are never alone. It’s God’s promise that He can take what looks like defeat and transform it into a victory. Just like an anchor in the storm, the Cross holds us secure. The winds may blow, but you’ll stand strong because your faith is rooted in the eternal love of God.
Friends, no storm is too big for the God who calms the seas. What feels impossible to us is nothing for Him. He can make a way where there is no way. He can turn the fiercest storm into a place of calm. But without Him, even the most stable ground can crumble beneath us.
So, trust Him, hold on to His promises, and cling to the Cross. Let the “Wood of Life” be your safe harbor. You’ll find that the surging seas can’t drown your hope, and the fiercest winds can’t blow you off course. Because the One who holds you faithful, and He is more than able to bring you through to the other side—stronger, wiser, and more at peace than ever before.
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