As I look back over the course of my life, I can’t help but recognize the times when I experienced an incredible and indescribable peace through the worst of circumstances. God in His Graciousness and Mercy allowed me to cling to Him in moments when I did not have another living soul to call on. I also felt His deep and abiding presence in my life through several surgeries and had a calmness that I can only explain as the absence of worry and anxiety. Without fear, I laid down on the table knowing that God was in control of the doctor’s hands and also my recovery.
In contrast, I have had moments when something small and insignificant held me captive. A fear, anxiety or worry about a situation or circumstance that I was not in control of. Something that rubbed me the wrong way and had me flustered. A comment, a suggestion or something that I had not factored into my decisions could cause me to get bent out of shape. With a poor attitude and not understanding the opposition at all, I could quickly lose the peace that I seemed to have in worse situations. Maybe I have not learned to trust Him at all times, or at least with smaller items. As I come to my senses, I have to admit that I like the feeling of being in control, even though this is never truly the case.
In Mark 4:36- 41, we are in the boat with the disciples as a great storm arises and begins to fill up the vessel with water. They cry out to Jesus to save them saying, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Jesus, having been asleep in the back of the boat, speaks to the wind and the waves and they cease. He then turns to His disciples and says, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” I read this passage and think to myself, Hey, Jesus take it easy. Seems like they would have every reason to be afraid for their lives. But they had forgotten who He was. Unfortunately, we do the same.
Later on, in Matthew 14, they are crossing the lake and Jesus comes walking to them on the water. A storm is brewing and he just comes strolling on the water towards them. We tend to focus on Peter and his attempt at doing the same thing. But before that even happened, the disciples are terrified once again, mistaking Jesus for a ghost. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!” Just as the previous time, He is with them in the storm! Just as I do, they had forgotten the other times that He had been with them and could keep them in perfect peace and calm the storms.
Seems like in the bigger moments of upheaval, we find it easier to cry out to God. Then in the smaller, less tumultuous times, we find ourselves hung up with worry, fear and anxiety. Although God invites us to trust Him at all times, it seems easier to do so with the overwhelming and crushing conditions. We have a tendency to think that we can handle the small things and bring God in on the big stuff. He is a heavy hitter and can handle the objects that overshadow us. But the small items, the smaller waves splashing at the shore, we can handle those on our own. We think somehow that we don’t need Him in those moments or maybe don’t want to bother Him with the insignificant ripples. But He wants to be so close to us that our default is to allow Him to shield us at all times.
I have found in Him a friend that is with me and for me at all times; whose love is constant and unchanging towards this rebel heart of mine. In my weaker moments He is still at His best, for He pleads for me before my God. With an Unfailing and Unfaltering Love, He offers forgiveness as I confess my transgressions before Him. When I am swept under by the crushing and devastating waves, He holds me tightly and I know that He will not let me go. I can drop anchor in the promises of His Word and not be terrified by what I face. A calm and abiding presence resides within me, even as the storm clouds form overhead. I cling even tighter as the surging, monstrous waves approach me. I brace for impact, knowing that He holds me with a steady grip. His arms surround me and I am held. I realize that this new storm has already been filtered through His fingertips and is for my good and for His Glory. The shadow of His wings is the only place I want to be. For He hides me there.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
In contrast, I have had moments when something small and insignificant held me captive. A fear, anxiety or worry about a situation or circumstance that I was not in control of. Something that rubbed me the wrong way and had me flustered. A comment, a suggestion or something that I had not factored into my decisions could cause me to get bent out of shape. With a poor attitude and not understanding the opposition at all, I could quickly lose the peace that I seemed to have in worse situations. Maybe I have not learned to trust Him at all times, or at least with smaller items. As I come to my senses, I have to admit that I like the feeling of being in control, even though this is never truly the case.
In Mark 4:36- 41, we are in the boat with the disciples as a great storm arises and begins to fill up the vessel with water. They cry out to Jesus to save them saying, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Jesus, having been asleep in the back of the boat, speaks to the wind and the waves and they cease. He then turns to His disciples and says, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” I read this passage and think to myself, Hey, Jesus take it easy. Seems like they would have every reason to be afraid for their lives. But they had forgotten who He was. Unfortunately, we do the same.
Later on, in Matthew 14, they are crossing the lake and Jesus comes walking to them on the water. A storm is brewing and he just comes strolling on the water towards them. We tend to focus on Peter and his attempt at doing the same thing. But before that even happened, the disciples are terrified once again, mistaking Jesus for a ghost. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!” Just as the previous time, He is with them in the storm! Just as I do, they had forgotten the other times that He had been with them and could keep them in perfect peace and calm the storms.
Seems like in the bigger moments of upheaval, we find it easier to cry out to God. Then in the smaller, less tumultuous times, we find ourselves hung up with worry, fear and anxiety. Although God invites us to trust Him at all times, it seems easier to do so with the overwhelming and crushing conditions. We have a tendency to think that we can handle the small things and bring God in on the big stuff. He is a heavy hitter and can handle the objects that overshadow us. But the small items, the smaller waves splashing at the shore, we can handle those on our own. We think somehow that we don’t need Him in those moments or maybe don’t want to bother Him with the insignificant ripples. But He wants to be so close to us that our default is to allow Him to shield us at all times.
I have found in Him a friend that is with me and for me at all times; whose love is constant and unchanging towards this rebel heart of mine. In my weaker moments He is still at His best, for He pleads for me before my God. With an Unfailing and Unfaltering Love, He offers forgiveness as I confess my transgressions before Him. When I am swept under by the crushing and devastating waves, He holds me tightly and I know that He will not let me go. I can drop anchor in the promises of His Word and not be terrified by what I face. A calm and abiding presence resides within me, even as the storm clouds form overhead. I cling even tighter as the surging, monstrous waves approach me. I brace for impact, knowing that He holds me with a steady grip. His arms surround me and I am held. I realize that this new storm has already been filtered through His fingertips and is for my good and for His Glory. The shadow of His wings is the only place I want to be. For He hides me there.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
Isaiah 26:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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