Carest Thou not that we perish?

Tropical Storm Fay has come, lingered longer than she was welcome, and gone off to other areas of the country.  There has been a lot of flooding, trees down on houses, and even some lives lost.  Fay was not even a hurricane.  Most of the damage was done by floods saturating the ground and coming up into houses, covering vehicles, and softening the ground so that the trees could no longer hold themselves up.  To all the victims of this storm I give my sincerest heartfelt condolenses.  My family has weathered this storm well, with only minor inconveniences and I truly feel for those less fortunate.

One of my favorite hymns comes to mind and I wish to share it with you.  It is through our hymns and music that we can be reminded to turn to our Heavenly Father for comfort and hope.

Master, the Tempest Is Raging

Fervently

31243, Hymns, Master, the Tempest Is Raging, no. 105

1. Master, the tempest is raging!
The billows are tossing high!
The sky is o’ershadowed with blackness.
No shelter or help is nigh.
Carest thou not that we perish?
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threat’ning
A grave in the angry deep?

[Chorus]
The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.

2. Master, with anguish of spirit
I bow in my grief today.
The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
Oh, waken and save, I pray!
Torrents of sin and of anguish
Sweep o’er my sinking soul,
And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
Oh, hasten and take control!

3. Master, the terror is over.
The elements sweetly rest.
Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
And heaven’s within my breast.
Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
Leave me alone no more,
And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
And rest on the blissful shore.

The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be,
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, be still; peace, be still.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
Peace, peace, be still.

Text: Mary Ann Baker, ca. 1874; Music: H. R. Palmer, 1834–1907

Matthew 8:23–27; Mark 4:36–41

 ”Be still and know that I am God”