Seeking Peace/Thursday, August 20, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell
Mark 4:39-40
Only God can give you the peace you need to weather the storms of life.
A group of experienced fishermen traveled across a body of water one evening. This sea was known for its sudden, violent storms, but these men had weathered some of nature’s toughest storms. They were prepared for anything, so they thought. They set out on their journey and settled in for a night of sailing.
After they were a good distance into their trip, the Man they were transporting across the sea went to the back of the boat and fell asleep. Suddenly, the wind began to pick up. The seas began tossing, and the waves grew larger. The clouds grew dark, and the men realized this was going to be a storm like no other. They began scurrying around, tightening sails, strapping down cargo, and preparing for the worst.
All night the waves tossed the ship, and the rains filled the ship with water. No matter how hard they tried to maneuver the ship, it was apparent they were doomed to lose the battle. The storm had the upper hand, and they realized their fate. Then, one of the men ran to the back of the boat and woke up the sleeping man. "How can you sleep through this? Don't you care what's going to happen to us? Help us!" The Man calmly stood, walked to the front of the boat, raised His voice to the storm, and the storm ceased. It was as if they had suddenly been displaced to another sea—one that held no evidence of storm. Who was this Man? The man turned around, looked at each of the exhausted, cold, soaking wet men, and said, "Don’t you trust Me?"
This story about Jesus and His disciples mimics our everyday lives sometimes. Things are going well, and life is running as smoothly as a peaceful sea, then the clouds begin to darken, and the waves swell. The phone call of the passing of a loved one; the pink slip at work; the terminal illness; the loss of a home; the financial strain; the worry of the future. All these storms can suddenly bring waves of fear and clouds of confusion. What to do? Where to turn? Who can help?
Experiencing storms in life is a natural occurrence. We all struggle with trials and face difficulties. The problem isn't the storm we face but our reaction to the storm. Do we turn to the great Creator? Or do we try to tighten our sails and weather the storm on our own?
The most comforting fact about a storm is knowing that as a Christian, Christ is in your boat. He's weathering the storm with you. He's just waiting for you to turn to Him and call out for His help. The disciples tried to handle the storm on their own, but realized the only One who could help was Christ. Even so, the only One who can bring you peace in the midst of a storm is your Heavenly Father.
What storm are you weathering right now? What difficulty are you trying to handle on your own? Even experienced fishermen with years of training couldn't handle the storm that night. They had to turn the Jesus for help. Don’t try to handle life's storms on your own. You can't do it! Only God can give you the help and peace you need to weather the storm you face. Why not seek Him right now and rely on Him to see you through?
