Often the season of Elul is like boarding a ship at sea. Unexpected storms may crop up along the way. The storms will test us and try us. Strong waves may toss us back and forth. Yet, during the season of Elul, a wise person will ignore the storms and continue to examine his heart toward God on an annual basis.
As this season moves through the land, the wise and obedient servant will examine his thoughts, words and deeds toward God and toward others. They will recall all the times of the past year when they forgot to keep the law. Following the lead of God’s Holy Spirit, they will repent of all the times they deliberately disobeyed the law. Even in the storms they will have the strength to turn.
THE STRENGTH TO TURN
Wise disciples will not let stormy weather and distractions prevent this turning process. They will carefully observe the season despite their unsettling circumstances. Self-pity is self-defeating. Faith learns to weather the storms of life and keep moving. This is what the prodigal son learned late in life. Thinking only of himself, he neglected to look back and make needed adjustments. He waited until he was desperate and stuck in dire circumstances. It was then that he remembered what a good life he had when he was living in the shelter of his father’s property and protection. If only he had remembered Elul. All of the wasted time, money and misery would have been prevented.
STAYING THE COURSE
Often our mistakes or offenses are easier to see when we stop and remember by looking back. Those who are keeping the season of Elul are now meditating on how the last year of their life has been lived out. Most can see a trail of the places and times where they sailed off course. If they are wise, they will begin to make the needed adjustments. Time runs out before we know it. The Day of Atonement is coming. The doors of Heaven are open now, but they will close eventually. Many will be left like desperate sailors tossed to and fro in the storms of hard times. Good sailors think ahead. They calculate the way and double check the course of their ship.
RECHARTING THE COURSE
When a ship loses it’s way, it can get lost in the ocean forever. Only the best of sailors know how to map a course by the rising and setting of the sun. Some look to the stars and follow God’s stories. They can find the path of true North in those stories in the skies.
In the season called Elul, God is helping us to rechart our course. He can walk on water. With Him at the head of our ship, life becomes easier and more manageable. We can rest easy when we realize the One at the wheel of our ship has mapped our course carefully and precisely. All we have to do is rest in His ability to do so. He will help us to handle the storms of life.
HE CAN WALK ON WATER
Unlike the more familiar words of a popular poem from this world, we can appreciate that God is the captain of our fate. He is the Master of our soul. We must trust God to guide us in all of our ways through all of our days. During Elul, He is our faithful traveling companion. He knows the way, all we have to do is follow Him.
My prayer for you today is that you keep looking into the face of God whenever the enemy comes to destroy His plans for you. Laugh in his face. Rest and drink in the fresh ocean breezes. God is in control, even in the storms. If we get lost, He will come for us. Elul is the time for seeking this peace that passes all understanding. Peace, patience and perseverance will guide us straight to the shoreline where song, dance and eternal love are waiting. No storm lasts forever. Thank you God for being in control of our destinies until we can enter into your Kingdom forever. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. May our lives be filled with your peace – the peace that passes all understanding.