Peace, be still

I sat through the whole morning, a flight, and  a train ride before I heard anything from the Lord. It's understandable because I have been on the move since September and it's been hard to be still long enough to really hear what God has been saying. But He is truly a faithful God because He never leaves me without a Word. He never allows me to feel that I am out there on my own. This is not to say that I don't ever have moments when I wonder where God is in a particular situation, but even then, I KNOW He is there. But today as I finally stopped, I heard the Lord say Peace, Be still. Then, naturally, I heard James Cleveland start singing “Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high. The sky is o’er shadowed with blackness. No shelter or help is nigh.” With all that is happening, some of you have been stuck right there in that verse. Life is too busy, the grief is overwhelming, the storms are too hard and it seems like there is no help or shelter in sight. But today, God is saying to you, peace be still.

Maybe you don't know the story that this song is based on but it can be found in Mark 4:35 -41. “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”(Mark‬ ‭4:35-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) God immediately took me to that boat with Jesus and His disciples. I could feel the boat rocking and the feeling of nausea and fear rolling in my stomach. I understood then why they felt so out of sorts and concerned about their fate. You see, they were like you and I when things start coming at us and we don't see a clear situation. Deep down, you know that Jesus is there with you and that He has the answer but you just can't see how He can fix it. So what happens? You start asking questions. ‘God, don't you see what's happening in my life? God, why are you allowing people to treat me this way? God, why am I struggling so much? Don't you want me to have what I need?’ You start looking for help that is already present in your situation.

“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”(Mark‬ ‭4:39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬) Today, God didn't ask me to break down every part of this scripture. He just wanted me to remind you that no matter what is happening in your life, He is there. He is speaking to the storms and telling them to cease. Kids not acting right? Peace, be still! Finances in disarray? Peace, be still! Sickness raging in your body? Peace, be still! All of the power, strength, and help that you need is in Jesus and He is right there surrounding you. You see, the disciples got caught up in the emotion of their situation instead of recognizing the power that was resting with them. You will overcome the storms in your life because Christ is with you and where He is, peace will reign.

The winds and the waves shall obey my will. Peace, be still.
Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be.
No water can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
They all shall sweetly obey my will.
Peace, be still. Peace, be still.

Amen