There is, perhaps, no greater image for the peace that Jesus brings into the lives of believers than that of Jesus calming the storms while His disciples were frightened for their lives. Even as His followers, we can be overwhelmed and frightened by things happening around us. We can start to focus on the storm rather than on Jesus and His power over all things. When we trust in Jesus and focus on Him we can find true peace. We remind ourselves… Jesus is in control… He is able to intervene when He considers it appropriate… we can trust in Him.
35On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
As it is with a physical storm in the scripture above, so it can also be other difficulties or trials in our lives. Through all of the challenges we face in this world, we can find peace in our Lord, Jesus Christ. God has always offered peace to those who follow and obey Him. He continues to do so through to the end of the age.
1In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
“We have a strong city;
He sets up walls and ramparts for security.
2“Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter,
The one that remains faithful.
3“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in You.
4“Trust in the LORD forever,
For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.
1God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
8Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold.
26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28“You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29“Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
God has always offered peace to those who believe in Him, who obey and follow Him from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. He offered them a peaceful existence with Him in paradise. Their choices to disobey God led to their leaving Eden. So too does God offer this same peace to us today through Jesus Christ. Like Adam and Eve, we too make choices to obey or rebel against God. Our choices determine whether we live in peace with God or choose to let sin separate us from God.
God became man, suffered and died for our sins… so that we could be forgiven and reconciled with God. When we make Jesus our leader and obey His commands we truly have reason to celebrate and find joy in the peace that He offers! And we will not be alone for the Father has sent a Helper in the Holy Spirit to dwell in us as comforter, counselor, teacher and guide. (Learn more about the Holy Spirit.)
Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.
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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.
