“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.”
Mark 4:38-39 KJV
I am in a storm. More like several storms at once. Financial, psychological, physical, professional, social…
At first I wished God would calm my storms, would quickly stand, firmly raise His hand, and boldly say, “Peace, be still.” But He hasn’t. Why not? Where is He anyway? Doesn’t He see that I perish? Doesn’t He care that I’m suffering? That this isn’t right? Isn’t fair? Isn’t healthy? For me or my family? Doesn’t He know what people will think of me? And more than that, what they’ll think of my faith? Of my God? God, where are you?
But now I know better. God sees me. He knows me. He cares. In fact God sees all I can’t see, knows beyond what I can know, and cares deeper than my imagination can take me. He isn’t absent, or silent, or inactive. He didn’t quiet the storms outside, but the one inside. The storm that told me I am unworthy of God’s grace, unable to fight God’s battles, unfit to be God’s servant. He stood up in the middle of that noise and called me to stand up, too. To lift my own hand, to use my own voice, to gently guide the inner turmoil to “Be still, in Jesus name.” It worked. It’s quiet in here now.
Outside the wind is still howling, the waves still crashing, the boat is turning on its side. Debt threatens to drown me. Relationships are ready to snap. My body is gearing up for a breakdown. But I’m not worried one bit. His great love has me asleep in the back of my boat. At perfect peace. Tomorrow we tackle the winds. But today, let the storm rage on.
God, the Peace Maker, You’ve taught me how to be still in distressing situations. I’ve been slow to believe it was possible, thinking I need to make things happen in my favor, to move external forces out of my way. But I now know my greatest strength is resting in You. Help me be a peacemaker like You are, to bring peace to those in the storms of life.
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