Peace Be Still

As I open my bible today and read an all too familiar story, my heart is moved by the obvious parallels in the hearts of the disciples during their time with Jesus, and that of my own. In particular, the story of Jesus calming the sea.

In this story I see the disciples in the boat, frantically running about, trying to find security in a man made ship which they were convinced would surely crash and they would all parish. I can see the lighting crashing, distracting them from truth. Then the next wave rushes over the side of their boat, threatening their livelihood and their very existence. The thunder is deafening. And there lay Jesus, asleep. So obviously unmoved by the circumstances around him.

The 12 are shocked. Angry at Jesus for not caring! I have found it so easy to judge the disciples when they question Jesus. And yet, am I not guilty of the same faithless heart? How often do I get caught up in the chaos of life around me, finally at my wits end I look to Jesus and demand answers. Scream at him, "Don't you care!? Hello!? Don't you see what's going on in the world? Don't you see how impossible the solutions are?" As if I need to give the creator of the world a clue on how everything will most definitely turn out. I am so busy telling God about my storm and chucking buckets of water over the side, I fail to stop and listen to what he is calling me to. Peace. Peace be still.

I get so fixated on the waves of life that threaten to overtake me, I miss the obvious. I miss the dent in the boat from the last storm that Jesus saved me from. I see the lighting, but overlook the fresh paint from the time my boat crashed, but Jesus rescued me from destruction. Just like the 12, my mind gets so easily swayed from assurance from the faithfulness of God in the past, to complete panic in the unknowns of the future. I get swept up in the storm and forget that the only one who is my help, my redeemer, and my faithful God, is sitting right in the boat with me. He never for a moment leaves and he is gently calling my heart to a peace only he can provide.

We are promised storms in life. In this we are given the choice to continually dread and focus our attention on the headlines. In a daily panic, waiting on the inevitable. Or we can sit down next to Jesus. Finding our rest in the safety and the security of his arms. Yes the waves may crash, but with him, we are promised life and peace. Can we trust him to be our all? To be our true source of hope when everything else demands we give up and give in?

Where does our help come from? The doctors? Leaders? Friends? The security in our home or jobs? No. Our only true, life saving help, can come from Jesus.

I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. Psalms 121:1‭-‬8 NLT