A PLACE CALLED WITS' END

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of Yehovah, and His wonders in the deep. For he commanded, and raised the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.

“They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end” (Psalm 107:23- 27).

In this psalm, the place called “wit’s end” is on a ship’s deck in a storm-tossed sea. Giant waves carry the ship up to the heavens, then drop it down to the depths. Powerful winds toss it back and forth so that none of the sailors can find their “sea legs.” They stagger across the deck like drunken men.

The ship’s sails are tattered and ripped, and wave after powerful wave crashes onto the deck. The sailors must struggle just to hold on. It looks like it’s all over for them, and they’re in total despair. They are helpless; vulnerable to the power of the elements, unable to stop the storm, powerless to save themselves.

These sailors have come to a place called “wit’s end.” It is a condition that afflicts all disciples of the Lord Jesus at one time or another. This phrase means simply, “having lost or exhausted any possibility of perceiving or thinking of a way out.” In short, it is the end of all human ability and resources. There is no escape; no help, no deliverance, other than in God - Yehovah Himself!

Perhaps You Have Already Arrived at “Wit’s End”!

Like the sailors aboard the ship, you have simply been going about your business, moving on in your walk with Jesus. Then one day, out of nowhere, a storm hits; and waves of trouble came crashing down on you from all sides!

Life’s troubles seldom come one at a time. They’re like the waves in a storm; coming one after another, fast and furious, mounting higher and higher. It’s as if the sun has gone down, the air has turned cold and icy, and the winds of trouble have begun beating down. Like the sailors in Psalm 107, your “...soul is melted because of trouble...” (verse 26). (The Hebrew word for melted here means “fainting with fear - apprehension.”)

Note: God Himself has initiated this storm! “...For he commanded and raised the stormy wind...” (verse 25). He’s the One who brought the sailors to this place. He’s the One raising the wind, stirring up the waves, tossing the ship. It is all His doing!

Yet this can be a great encouragement to our faith whenever troubles hit us from all sides. We have the knowledge that all troubles and storms in life have been ordained by God, for those who walk in righteousness. They aren’t caused by the devil or some sin. Rather, the Lord has brought us to wit’s end, and He has a purpose in it all! Our God and Father Yehovah knows our end from the beginning according to His foreknowledge. He allows us to go through various trials and tribulations, and persecutions for our own good, for as we go through them we do so enabled by His spirit to succeed in the end!

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of the Messiah’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12).

God is not surprised by your ordeal. In fact, it is happening because He wants to produce something in your heart; to reveal His glory in you, yet you may feel it is absolutely the worst storm in your life! Your trial may be a financial struggle, business troubles, slander, family problems or personal tragedy, or persecution for being a disciple of the Lord Messiah. You go to bed at night with a restlessness inside, a cloud hanging over you. When you awaken, the dull ache is still with you. And it keeps hanging on until one day you wake up crying, “God, how much more do I have to endure? How long will You allow me to go through this? When will it all end?”

When did the storm stop for the sailors in Psalm 107? When did Yehovah bring them into their desired haven? According to the psalmist, two things happened:

• First, the sailors came to their wits’ end, giving up on all human hope or help. They said, “There’s no way we can save ourselves. Nobody on earth can get us out of this!”

• Second, they cried to Yehovah in the midst of their trouble; turning to Him alone for help!

“Then they cry unto Yehovah in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He makes the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so, he brings them unto their desired haven” (Psalm 107:28-31).

Understand: God is never caught by surprise. He doesn’t have to ad lib His divine direction whenever troubles befall us. No, long before Israel left Egypt and arrived at Migdal, God’s plan for them was already set. He had already commanded the winds to blow at a certain hour, to wall up the Red Sea. He had known all along exactly what He was going to do!

Likewise, today, God has a plan to bring you out of your storms. In fact, He devised that plan long before your trouble even started. Yet He will hold it back to the very last moment, waiting for you to trust Him. He wants to see if you’ll put your life into His hands and say, “Live or die, I will trust in my God and my Father Yehovah!”

You may answer, “But I don’t know what I’m going to do. The storm is still raging. It looks so hopeless. I don’t see any sign of help or deliverance!” To all these things God still says, “Trust Me, my child and you’ll be blessed!” Now we need to realize that if you are persecuted unto death, or die from some illness, holding fast to the end, you will be greatly blessed when you are resurrected.

It doesn’t matter whether your trial is with your family, with your business, or with putting food on the table. If you put your total trust in Yehovah’s word and His faithfulness, God has promised to bless you and He cannot lie! When the heat comes, you won’t even be bothered. When the wind comes, you’ll stand strong; because you will have learned to trust Him despite all unnerving circumstances.

You’ll be a green tree bearing the abundant fruit of confidence— and everyone around you will be given hope and encouragement as they behold your quiet trust.

Written by David Wilkerson and edited by Bruce Lyon

I personally believe that absolutely noting terrible can happen to me unless my God and my Father Yehovah allows it to happen and that in the end what He allows will bring a good result! He knows what is best for me at any given moment. He is my rear guard and my strong tower, the rock on which I stand, my protector and my guide as I walk through this sin sick world.