Peace In The Storms of Life- Mark 4:39
Mark 4:39
39 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.
Two artists were asked to write their depictions of peace. One artist drew a pond, which was calm and still, however, it was stagnant, and there were not many fish that lived inside this pond, due to the water having set for so long without a spring feeding into it. The other artist drew a picture of a small tree that stood in the cleft of a rock, dangling beneath a waterfall. Nestled in one of the branches of this obscure tree was the nest of a red robin. Even within inches of thousands of gallons of water from the waterfall plummeting down, the robin had chosen to make its nest there and had chosen contentment during this seemingly chaotic, noisy environment (“Streams in the Desert”).
I would say that the robin displayed the best example of having peace that surpasses all understanding. Even amid the turbulent atmosphere of living next to a noisy waterfall, the robin chose to make its abode there. Even amid the most difficult times of life, we can choose to dwell in peace and joy, when Christ is our anchor and sure foundation. When we look at Christ, we see an example of One who always had perfect peace. In the stormy sea when He was with the disciples, He calmed the storm, and said, “Peace Be Still!” He left His disciples with a lasting impression of His peace and presence and a sure way they could have peace in every storm of life when they cried out to Jesus, the author, redeemer, and sustainer of life. He brings peace, healing, and restoration into every heart and mind. Even on the cross, He did not retaliate, or try to prevent the Roman soldiers from hammering the nails in his hands and feet. He did not say a word when the crowds mocked and jeered at him. He did not lift a finger or raise his voice, though he was completely innocent, and would have been justified, had he chosen to call down thousands of angels to rescue Him. Even on the cross, He was not thinking of Himself but chose to forgive the ones who crucified Him. He also looked out not for His own needs and wants but instead made sure John the beloved knew to care for Mary, His mother when He was gone. He set the pattern of love and forgiveness. Having the peace only God can supply will enable you to walk with confidence, assurance, and tranquility, that no matter what difficulties or storms may arise in your life, you know with unwavering certainty that God will bring you through any quagmire of discouragement or difficulty because you are His very own Son or Daughter.
Jesus had an unshakable peace because He was secure in His identity as the Son of God and He was secure in His Father’s love. Nothing could shake Him or deter Him from His assignment on earth to redeem, save, and heal a broken world because He had His Heavenly Father’s Acceptance and the confidence of His unconditional love. He also knew His assignment was to restore a broken world to fellowship with the Father, (Himself.) If He had not forgiven, He could not have been the perfect Lamb, the perfect, atoning sacrifice for our sins, and redemption would not have happened. Jesus was always at peace because he knew his position as the Son of God was unshakable. He was Secure in His Father’s love. He was certain His Father would not forsake him and never deviated from His mission from His heavenly Father God, which was to redeem a lost and broken world. He was secure because He was one with His Father, and you and I also can be one with our Heavenly Father when we allow our lives and natures to be transformed into Christ’s likeness and nature. Let us pursue holiness, walk in forgiveness, and live a life of continual renewal and repentance, secure in the Fullness of the love of the Father. There is a price of devotion and discipline we must pay to enter into transformation, but the reward is unfathomable! The glory God wants to bring you into far surpasses anything you can imagine, but you must allow Him to transform your spiritual mind into who He wants you to be.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
In the midst of the turmoil in this world and this nation, God wants you to shift your focus from the chaos in this life to our good, loving Father whom we serve. We must meditate on Christ who is our anchor in the storms of life. When the winds are raging, nations are at war, and economies are crumbling, believers must shift their focus to Jesus and meditate on His Word during this time. The enemy wants Christians to be defeated by fear right now as they look at the world crumbling. During these storms of life, we must realize that the more we trust in God and shift our focus to Him, the more He will sustain us, provide for us, and protect us.
In these storms we are in as the world is going crazy, we must worship God, surround ourselves with others in the body of Christ, and meditate on the Word of God. When we are rooted in Christ as Ephesians 3 tells us, we will not be shaken. Ephesians 3:16-21 16, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”