The Wreck is Driven upon the Shore
Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter
neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, (Mt 14:30) but
when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry
though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental
anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is
driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox flies to its hole for
protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the
tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great
harbor of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have
found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us
to make for it with all sail. Short prayers are long enough. There were
but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were
sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A
sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of
the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better.
Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in
small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might
have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter. Our
extremities are the Lord’s opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of
danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with
him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the
last moment we appeal to our Master, but his swift hand makes up for
our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by
the boisterous waters of affliction? Let us then lift up our souls unto
our Saviour, and we may rest assured that he will not suffer us to
perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist
his powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.
