Dealing with all the uncertainties of COVID-19, living in a troubled marriage, breaking free from an abusive marriage, or having children who are struggling with many aspect of their lives, are just a few of the stormy circumstances we face that can bring stress, doubt, and anxiety. As believers, unless we learn to trust Christ’s peace living in us, we will not be able to live in it.
How Jesus Dealt with Storms
Although Jesus was fully God, he was also fully man. He had to face the inner and outer storms we face in life. He faced the visible elements of the storm as well as the invisible elements in his human desires and heartbreaks. Let’s look at how Jesus shows us that we can calm the storms in our lives through the spirit of God living in us from the Holy Spirit.
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41, NIV)
There is Power in Christ’s Peace
I want you to notice when Jesus got up he, “rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Jesus rebuked the wind the disciples felt. Then he told the waves to be quiet and still. He calmed the waves and the invisible swirling current underneath them. Just calming the wind would not have quieted the waves for some time in normal conditions. But remember, Christ’s peace is supernatural.
Christ’s words reveal that we will have visible and invisible storm elements in our lives from time to time. Some storms are expected, and we can see them coming. Other storms just pop up because we live in this broken world.
No matter what storms we face, we must speak to both the visible and invisible aspects in our troubled minds and hearts. Christ’s peace is our assurance and power that he is with us in the middle of our storms unshaken. His peace is his divine arms around us to help us trust him and walk with him no matter what we feel, how things look, or what other people may say.
Even though we walk as disciples of Christ, not every element of our storm may be calmed immediately. The calm may not bring the results we wanted or expected. Living in Christ’s peace doesn’t mean we will be healed on this earth or that we will not face personal consequences. Christ’s peace in us means that we are never alone. We have his guidance and power in us to walk through whatever challenges or missions that come our way.
The Core of Christ’s Peace
The core of Christ’s peace was his trust in God to take care of him no matter what he felt, no matter how things looked, or what others said. He knew if God led him to a place or mission, he must choose to trust God’s ways and results no matter what the outcome met for him. Because Jesus chose to live in the loving faithfulness of God and to trust him no matter what, he was empowered to decide to endure crucifixion for us. He shows us that God’s plans are the best, no matter what it costs us on earth.
I can’t imagine the physical pain and invisible hurricane of emotions Jesus faced as he was betrayed, beaten, and crucified. If Jesus could surrender and walk with God in his peace on earth knowing what was to come, we can too. We must acknowledge the visible and invisible aspects of our life’s storms. However, we can choose to say we trust Jesus with everything, no matter how we feel, what we see, or what other people say about our faith.
Only we can speak to the wind and the waves in the power of Christ living in us and find his peace. Only we can choose to trust and live in his gift of supernatural peace; he left us before he ascended to heaven. It’s time for us to live like we believe his plans are the best for us and rebuke any doubts. Because Jesus lives in us, we can call upon and live in all of his supernatural peace no matter what storms we may face. Whenever you feel a ripple in Christ’s peace, recite these truths until your mind and spirit are in Christ’s peace.
