Today was one of those hectic days. I had been running non-stop since 6am and by the end of the day, I was exhausted, irritable, and losing patience; but, I still had a few things left to do. As I stopped for a moment to collect my thoughts, I realized that this is the reality of the new season that I am walking into. Things are going to be busy. And I thought to myself, how am I going to be able to do it? How am I going to be able to get all of this done, and still be present with my family? Sometimes there’s so much that needs doing and so little time to do it. But as I thought myself into a state of being overwhelmed, I stopped and put some worship music on. And immediately, the peace of God came over me. And God reminded me, He said, “I’ve sustained you before, and I’ll sustain you again.”
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I have seen His faithfulness as He’s walked with me through difficult seasons in the past. And through those trials, I have come to know that He is always in control.
Jesus controls every storm.
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41 NLT)
In this story, we see a stark contrast between Jesus and His disciples. The disciples were afraid and surprised at Jesus’s ability to sleep in the middle of this life threatening event. But when we look at Jesus’s reaction, He was not afraid at all. He knew that the storm had no power to overtake them. He knew that at His command, the wind and the waves would cease. Jesus was more concerned about the disciple’s response to the storm, than the storm itself.
As the disciples faced the threat of this storm, they were overtaken with fear. They were afraid because they perceived this storm to be something that it wasn’t. They thought it was strong enough to thwart the purpose of God. Remember that Jesus was the one that planned this trip; it was His idea. The disciples had forgotten what He said. He told them that they were going to cross to the other side of the lake, but at this point, this storm was a distraction, one that caused the disciples to question their Savior.
Jesus asked them why they were afraid, He said, “Do you still have no faith?” This question reveals that Jesus had already show them His power. They had already seen Him display His glory in the past; yet, they still did not understand how great He is. They had seen Him heal the sick, and cast out demons, but for the disciples, this was different. The passage says that once Jesus calmed the storm, “the disciples were, absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” They had no idea that Jesus was in control of all things. They had no idea that Jesus had the power to rebuke the storm in an instant. And this is what He wants us to understand. He wants to change our perception of the storm, and our perception of Him. He wants to show us that the storms that we go through aren’t as strong as we think they are.
The storm may be strong, but Jesus is stronger.
When we read about this event in the book of Luke, we see that they were in “real danger.”
As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. (Luke 8:23 NLT)
So it wasn’t that this storm was not a threat. But Jesus wanted them to understand His authority over it. He wanted them to see that He is greater than the storm, and He was with them, in the middle of it. And the same is true for us. He sees everything that we go through, but He isn’t worried about it as we are.
There are times that we cry out to Him, and all we want is for Him to make the storm go away. But, He has a different view than we do. While we are frantically seeking rescue, He is at peace, because He knows that the storm is producing a fruit in us that is necessary for our future. So as we wait for Him to work in our situation, we must know that His intends so much more for us.
Jesus doesn’t just want to calm the storm; He wants to give us peace in the midst of the storm.
As Jesus was laying there, resting through the storm, He was giving us a picture of what it means to have true peace.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)
The storm might not go away when we want it to, only God knows the details. But, He has given us the ability to get relief in the midst of it. He has given us the ability to have peace instead of fear. Because that is what these storms produce in us… fear. The disciples panicked out of fear. And we panic out of fear. We fear that the storm will never end. We fear that we can’t sustain the season that we are in. We fear what the future may bring. We fear those things that could happen, but the truth is that we have no idea what the future holds. God is right there in the storm with us, and He knows exactly what will happen. And His word says that His plans for us are always for our good. And even when the unexpected happens, He still uses it for our good.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
Regardless of what you are going through, God will work it out for your good.
When I think of the sovereignty of God, and that He works everything out for my good, it gives me peace. And when I am in a place of disappointment, I automatically think to myself, God has a plan. I remind myself that He has a purpose for everything. And I know that He will use it for my good, and for His glory. But this wasn’t always my sentiment. There was a time that I allowed myself to be tossed with the wind and the waves. My trust in God has been developed through my walk with Him.
Trust in God is developed in the storm.
I’ve seen God come through time and time again, so I know that He is faithful. I don’t trust God because others have told me I should, I trust God because He has shown me that l can. This is what God wants to show you through this storm. He wants you to see that He is faithful, and He wants you to experience His peace that surpasses all understanding. He wants to be your Sustainer.
Finding peace in God is a skill that must be developed.
It’s like all the other skills that you’ve developed in your lifetime. When you mastered reading, you didn’t do so in one setting. And when you learned to ride a bike, you weren’t successful on your first attempt. Both of these skills required practice. And it is the same with finding peace in God. Often times people say that they’ve tried prayer and it didn't work. Or they tried to worship in the presence of God, and nothing happened. But this isn’t how the power of God works. His presence requires a relationship; it requires proximity.
I once heard a speaker compare hearing the voice of God to radio reception. He said that when we are listening to a radio station in the city where the station is based, the reception is the strongest. But the further we drive away from the city, the weaker the reception gets. And it is the same with hearing the voice of God, and receiving His peace. The more we spend time with God, the closer we are to Him, the easier it is for us to receive His peace when we need it.
Today, the peace of God came over me immediately, because God has taken me through seasons where I had no choice but to find peace in the storm. As I prayed for my marriage, with two small children, I was overwhelmed by work and all the household duties. And at that time, I found myself asking the same question that I asked myself today. How will I do all this and still be present for me children? And in that season, as my heart was grieved because of the state of my marriage, God didn't take away the storm. But He gave me peace in the middle of it. As heartbreaking and chaotic as my life was, He sustained me. He showed me how to have joy and peace, even in the middle of the heartache. There were times when I locked myself in the bathroom, crying because I didn’t know if the storm would ever subside. I didn’t know how much longer I could make it, but God gave me a peace that was unexplainable. He strengthened me every time. During that season, I turned my house into a place of worship. I learned to surround myself with the presence of God. This is how I find my peace in Him. He trained me then; He prepared me for now.
Every storm that you go through, is meant to train you and prepare you for your future.
Our heavenly father wants us to live our lives full of joy and peace. With each trial we go through, we have the opportunity to grow that joy and peace within us. But it’s our perception of the storm that determines what we get out of it. It’s what we do in the midst of the chaos, that determines whether we will develop a deeper relationship with Him. And remember, our proximity to God determines our access to His power.
In the book of Luke, we read about Jesus’ visit to see Martha and Mary.
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NLT)
In this story, Martha is busy being hospitable, and she is upset that her sister, Mary, left her to do all the work. And as Martha voiced her offense to Jesus, He responded that she was worried about the wrong things, but Mary had fixed her attention on the only thing that matters. When I read this story, I find myself in the place of Martha. I’m always so concerned over the details. And in her defense, shouldn’t she be hospitable to her guest? And shouldn’t her sister help her out? These are the things that run through our minds daily. All the things that we should do, the standards that we have to uphold, the responsibilities that we have to take care of. But Jesus tells Martha that these aren’t the things that matter. The passage says that Martha was “distracted.” She wasn’t focused on the one thing that mattered, Jesus.
Our storms can be distractions if we allow them to be.
The storm that the disciples were in was real, the dinner that Martha needed to prepare was real, but both of them were distractions. Both of them resulted in a loss of focus. But Mary was not distracted. She understood the value of spending time at the feet of Jesus. She knew that He could provide whatever she needed. She wasn’t worried about dinner, she had the bread of life right in front of her, and she knew that whatever He provided, would sustain her.
If we want to experience peace, we can’t run through life distracted by the storm. We have to do as Mary did. We have to spend time at the feet of Jesus. Even if it's just for a few moments, even if it means we turn on some worship music as we go about our day. As we spend time with Him, we will begin to live in His rhythm.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
This is Jesus’s promise to us. He says that if we come to Him, He will show us how to live in the grace that He lives in. He will show us how to live free and light. He promises that when we get away with Him, He’ll show us how to recover our lives. And this is what we all need, to recover our lives. When we walk in His rhythm, the storms don’t dictate how we live, because he shows us how to rest in the middle of them.
The storm that you are going through isn’t meant to take you out. Your Father in heaven sees you, and He is with you. He knows all the details, and He has a plan to use it all for your good, and for His glory. But as you wait for Him, He wants to give you your life back. He want you to live free and light. He wants you to live in joy and peace. He wants you to experience the rest that comes with His grace. You don’t have to wait for the storm to subside to receive His gifts. He’s developing them in you right now. Through the storm, He’s showing you how to walk in the peace that surpasses all understanding. I know it doesn’t feel like it right know, but your stronger. And as you walk with Him, He’ll continue to breathe His power into you. He’ll continue to develop you into who He created you to be.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your loving care. Thank you for walking me through this season of my life, and for sending your Spirit to comfort me in this time. Thank you for giving me a new perspective today, and for showing me that your are greater than the storm. Today, I choose to fix my eyes on you. I choose to put my faith in you, and to allow you to develop me into who you created me to be. And as I come to you, I know that you will show me how to live in your grace, and that you will show me how to live free and light. I know that as I trust in you, you will help me to recover my life, the life that you planned for me. My hope is in You alone. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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