“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. He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it you have no faith?'” (Mark 4:39 & 40).
There are monster storms out there that want to devour you and everything you love. You can’t outthink them, outrun them, or overpower them. Not on your own. You know Jesus calmed a storm, and told His panicking friends they could do it. So you pray at it, throwing every Christian word you know into the wind, and maybe a few not-so-Christian ones. But nothing happens. You begin to realize finding the right combination of words or actions won’t magically make it stop. The storm keeps raging.
Exhausted, you give up trying to make yourself more religious than scared. You take a breath. You close your eyes to the storm, and open them to your awareness of God’s presence—in your heart, your mind, and in every one of your circumstances. At first, all you’re aware of is your hope He’s there. Somewhere. But then a thought comes, and it’s the first one in a while that isn’t stressful. Just the opposite, it’s something good in your life, and you can’t help but feel thankful. Joy fills you up more than you expected, and leads you to see all the other good things in your life you’re truly grateful for, each more powerful than the last.
Suddenly, there is revelation. Not an academic epiphany, but a little kid tearing open a Christmas present kind of unveiling. God is good. Not just in your head, but really, truly good. You can feel it in your mind as well as your heart. You see Jesus in every part of your life. Even in the areas that don’t have full answers, you know He’s there, loving you through them. Now you can’t not see it. Everywhere you look, you’re recognizing ever–increasing measures of His grace, healing, hope, wisdom, kindness, and goodness. Wave after wave of His goodness toward you. You’re filled with such confident joy, you see yourself with the love He does. You see in every situation in your life, He’s given you a provision of Himself to deal with it far more powerful than the situation itself.
You open your eyes. The storm is already so much smaller and weaker. As you say the words, they come from your very soul, from your identity in Him, and all He is for you. “Peace. Be still.”
Equip Your Spirit 