July 2021
I enjoy studying hymn lyrics and the reference scriptures that accompany them. A recent favorite is “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” and the accompanying scripture, Mark 4:39-41. I learned that the hymn was written in 1871 by Edward Hopper, pastor of the Mariner’s Church at New York Harbor, who’s congregation consisted largely of sailors. I can imagine Edward using the powerful imagery of seafaring to teach his congregants about faith in the Savior. Seafaring was something they were very familiar with and they would have understood the need to have an accomplished pilot to guide them over treacherous seas to the safety of the shore. The words of the hymn are a parable, a metaphor of our lives.
Jesus, Savior, pilot me over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll, hiding rock and treach’rous shoal.
Chart and compass came from thee; Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
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.
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.”
Jesus taught the same lesson to his disciples on the Sea of Galilee. A great multitude had gathered on the shore to hear Him teach. The multitude was so large that Jesus “entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.” He taught the parables of the sower, the candle under a bushel, the seed growing secretly, and the mustard seed. Each of these parables teach about faith and the need to lean on the Savior and allow Him to pilot us. The disciples heard all His words and “when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.” The disciples had spent the day with Jesus, listening to him teach and having the parables explained to them. Imagine that! Then, when the day was over, they entered their ship to “pass over unto the other side.” The story is familiar. A great storm arose. The wind blew and the waves beat into the ship, filling it with water. The disciples were afraid, forgetting all they had learned that day. In a way, their souls filled with water and they forgot their faith. They forgot that their pilot, though He slept, could hush the storm and still the waves.
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40)
These words are a parable, a metaphor for our lives. We all have storms, and ships that occasionally fill with water. Let us remember our faith! Let us remember that the Savior is our pilot. He is our lighthouse. He is the Sovereign of the Sea. He will lead us through unknown waves, hiding rocks, and treacherous shoal. He is our chart and compass. He will hush the ocean wild – if we will lean on Him and fear not.
Love,
Michelle Holt
Stake Relief Society President
