Dawn's Rising

Dawn's Rising, chapter 3: Fire and the Black

Deep in the haze of her thoughts Julianna clutched her woolen shawl close around her shoulders as she wandered aimlessly along the ship's nearly deserted deck. As she made her way along the slightly rocking deck, she let her mind wander where ever it would.

When Julianna finally awakened in the last hours of the morning, she had felt the peace from the evening before still clinging to her. Somehow, she knew without a doubt that the Lord's answer to their prayers was already on its way. However, as she prepared herself for the midday meal a strange sense of fitful restlessness slowly began to seep into her. The feeling only increased while she fed on the meager fare of her meal, until it became nearly unbearable. Her mother's sea sickness also returned shortly after she awoke, and this added to the increasing weight of whatever burden was pressing Julianna down. Therefore, when Julianna had finished eating together with her father, sister, brother and Torstein sisters she asked to be excused from the table to take a walk alone. Sensing the unease of his oldest daughter Karl silently asked what the Lord's will was and then followed the first thought that entered his mind. He gave his permission for her to go.

So here Julianna was, walking aimlessly while she beseeched God to show her what was wrong. She was so preoccupied that she did not even notice where her feet were taking her. Julianna sighed out her deep longing for the return of the peace that she had enjoyed up until only a few hours ago. As another sigh escaped her lips she paused and gazed out into the sky which was clear of any shielding clouds. It glowed with a deeper blue hue than she had ever seen. As a chilling wind blew over her she clutched her thin shawl tightly around her and shivered slightly.

Unknowingly, Julianna's blue eyes reflected the deep azure blue of the waters in front of her. The sea looked to be ceaseless, as if all the land had sunk into the ocean depths to leave only water again. And here they sailed on a ship that suddenly seemed so tiny compared with this never-ending expanse of water. Julianna mused that that was what she felt like in comparison with the Infinite God of all creation.

Suddenly a section of Isaiah came to mind. Her father had read it to her during the time in her life when fears consumed and governed her. It had impressed upon her very spirit how great and awesome God was, and compared to Him the things she feared were impotent and miniscule. After she came to faith she had then committed the verse to memory and had since then recited it into the face of fear and uncertainty. Each time she did so she felt the fears melt away as they were measured up to her awesome Heavenly Father. So for perhaps the hundredth time since memorizing the verse, Julianna whispered it aloud, "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or with the breadth of His hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?"

As a small smile curved her mouth Julianna answered the questions of the verse, "The Lord God has." And yet this awesome Almighty God had chosen to save little her. And since that wonderful moment He had been constantly at work in her life, as was evidenced by the mighty changes taking place in it almost daily. She truly had nothing to fear when she belonged to such an awesome being as her God. Nothing could ever measure up to even His big toe, Julianna mused as her grin widened.

Then unbidden, Julianna abruptly remembered one of her father's requests to God from the following evening. Her father had asked the Lord to expose the thief for all to see, not for the sake of vengeance, but that he might be freed from the Evil one's influence and started on the path that would lead him to new life in Christ Jesus. She had felt a surge of guilt, because up to then she had been hoping and silently praying for the capture of the thief, only for the return of their stolen wealth. Convicted anew of her wrong intentions she sent up yet another prayer for God's forgiveness for her selfish motives, and thanked Him for His generous heart that could use this act of evil to achieve something so good.