Amazing Facts of Faith — Sargasso Sea



If you were to travel east of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico—you’d be out in the middle of the ocean. But you’d also be in the middle of a mystical sea called the Sargasso Sea.

The Sargasso Sea occupies about two thirds of the North Atlantic Ocean, stretching seven hundred miles wide and two thousand miles long. The only “sea” with absolutely no land around it, the Sargasso Sea got its name from a common brown seaweed called Sargassum that floats in 
vast mats in its waters.

Sargassum seaweed is fascinating stuff. The first European to observe it, Christopher Columbus called it “gulf weed.” Some people use it as an herbal remedy. Sargassum seaweed floats in some of the bluest and clearest waters in the world, affording a view two hundred feet down in places—a clear view into a diverse ecosystem.

For years, scientists wondered where the American and Atlantic eels were breeding. They knew adult eels swam down the rivers out into the Atlantic, but they never could find the place where they reproduced. Finally, they discovered it was out in the middle of the Sargasso Sea.

But if you were an ancient sailor, you did not want to get stuck in the Sargasso Sea. When these great sailing vessels would get caught in the vast mats of Sargassum seaweed, they called it “the doldrums.” The seaweed would wrap around the rudder and barnacles would begin to grow on the ship. In this area of baffling winds, they’d make no progress—they’d get stuck. Becoming extremely dispirited, sometimes violence and even insanity would break out among the sailors.

Perhaps you’ve been trapped in the doldrums. You feel like you’re going in circles. Life seems stifling. Friend, the Bible offers good news. There is a way out. The Bible talks about a famous character who became trapped in the doldrums. He even had seaweed wrapped around his head! His name was Jonah. And God gave him a way of escape. In Jonah 2:3–7, we read:

“You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple.”

How did Jonah break out of the doldrums? How did he escape from his discouraging circumstances? He turned to God and prayed. And although he was as far away from God as anybody could be—in the belly of a sea monster in the bottom of the ocean in the dark—God heard his prayer. When the ancient sailors became trapped on the deck of their ship for weeks stuck in the doldrums, discouraged, sometimes they would hold a prayer meeting and pray that God would send a breeze that would set them free and get their boats moving. They turned to God in prayer and often miracles would happen. The wind would flutter in the sails and bring them out of their seaweed prison.

Friend, if you are stuck in the doldrums, caught in a cycle of depression, turn to God in prayer. Trust His Spirit to blow through your soul and set you free. If God can do it for Jonah, if He can do it for the ancient sailors, He can do it for you.
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4 Comments
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MrsMaddeo
This is exactly what is wrong with the world. A beautiful story in an effort to help heal a wounded soul, and a Christian with enough confidence to sign “God Bless” has to spilt hairs and pick out the one thing noticed as “wrong”. If Christians can’t even stand behind one another and be appreciative or supportive, how can we ever expect the world to want to know Gods love? I greatly enjoyed reading this and it has helped me during a time of great distress in my life… thank you very much for taking the time and energy to post it.
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Anonymous
Great analogy.
Please note that Pastor Doug is pronuncing the word "Sargasso" incorrectly though. Kindly edit that word Everytime it's mentioned.
God bless.
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Anonymous
This article about the sea-weed clogging the rudder, and stranding a vessel, giving the term, "doldurms" to us, seemed a bit suspect. Especially when the author said Barnacles began to grow on the ship.
I'm not a sailor, but I do know that barnacles grow on ships stationary or not. Looking up the word Doldrums, there was no mention in any of the three main references, but in fact pointed to the equatorial weather patterns as the culprit, not sea-weed boggling a voyage.
OK, so it's a means to an end, you might say, sighting that "whatever works" to bring someone to a better understanding of Christ's Gospel. I respectfully disagree. There are far better ways to do so, and with no negative reactions.
I recall one sermon by Pastor Doug years ago that he delivered there at Sac Central wherein he made the connection between the dedication and sacrifice of an eagle, and that of our Savior. I have no idea where he heard this ridiculous rumor, but I was astonished when I heard it. He said that a mother eagle will reach down, and physically rip off a chunk of her own breast meat to feed her hungry chick, rather than let it starve!
Now I can assure you FULLY that it never happened nor will it ever. I did speak to him about it, but as he is so busy, he probably didn't consider it to be a harmful breach. But I sort of took offense, because it is false, and we as Adventists should be extremely careful of giving the enemy ANY such wiggle-room.
Just as the SDA doctor, when running for president spouted his understanding as to what the ancient Egyptian pyramids were constructed for (grain silos!!!) caused a huge black-eye for the denomination, so too can we, in our small circle of influence paint ourselves (and thus our church) in some very laughable colors, if we are not careful.
Just a Sabbath thought,
Thanks for your interest,
Ray
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Anonymous
Taken from: https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/esp_bermuda_04.htm
"For centuries the Sargasso Sea was dreaded by the seafaring because of its deadly calms. Many times the Spanish found themselves becalmed for weeks, being then forced to jettison their war horses in order to conserve water. Hence the area known as the “Horse Latitudes” traverse the Sargasso Sea. Another name would be the “Doldrums.” The sargassum could even contribute to stalling a vessel during these long periods of weak winds. And today props on smaller boats can be fouled by the weed mats, causing them go dead in the middle of nowhere."