Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 755)
1 Jesus, Savior, pilot me
over life’s tempestuous sea;
unknown waves before me roll,
hiding rock and treach’rous shoal;
chart and compass come from thee.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
2 As a mother stills her child,
thou canst hush the ocean wild;
boist’rous waves obey thy will
When thou say’st to them: “Be still.”
Wondrous sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
3 When at last I near the shore,
and the fearful breakers roar
twixt me and the peaceful rest,
then, while leaning on thy breast,
may I hear thee say to me:
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”
Text: Edward Hopper; Music: John Edgar Gould; Public Domain
Devotion
I have known many like my dad who were in the Navy and have known how treacherous the sea can be. When you are in a boat on a rough sea, no matter the size of the boat, you feel small and know that you are not in control. The only thing you can do is ride out the rough weather. This hymn knows the difficulties of being at sea. The author also knows that Jesus is not hindered by the rough sea. Just as Jesus calmed the disciples’ fears of the storm in this week’s gospel, so Jesus can also calm our stormy lives. We are encouraged to let Jesus be in control of our lives. We are instructed to let Jesus be our Pilot.
Prayer
Jesus our Pilot, be present and guide our lives ever into calm seas and shores. Amen.