Peace!

Peace!

Mark 4:39 AMP

[39] And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness].

Let us consider the context of the verse above so we can appreciate the work of Jesus, not just in the verse above, but also in our human lives too. Jesus had spent the whole day publicly teaching the crowd about the kingdom of God through parables, and also privately explaining these parables to His disciples. As far as Jesus was concerned, the kingdom of His father was paramount, and He would do anything to establish it in the hearts of the people. However, when evening came, it was time to depart and go over to the other side by sea. It was then that the storm arose, swamping the boat. I am not sure what the disciples were thinking as this was happening, but the passage was careful to note that Jesus was in the boat with them. How could He be there and this would be happening? How would He allow such to happen whilst He is in the boat? 

This is why a walk with God is not like any other walk. What is guaranteed is God's grace and presence being sure; what is not certain is the kind of storm that will come. Having Jesus in your boat secures your life from eternal loss, but be sure that the storms will come, the wind will beat and fear will threaten the calm that Jesus provides. To make matters even worse, the One whom they had seen perform miracles was not only seemingly oblivious to their plight; he was fast asleep, with his head on a cushion. He could sleep through a storm because He knew no storm could destroy the boat He was in. That is the confidence God would have me establish in my heart that come what may, no experience can destroy my life if He is in there in my heart. We want Him to act on our own terms and time, but if you have given Him the total control He asked for, trust Him to work out His perfect will in His own time and in His own way.

Jesus was sleeping, yet the storms could not capsize the boat. The disciples came in fear, but that day, they witnessed another dimension to the power and authority of Jesus as Creator over all aspects of His creation. That which is made is always subject to the One who makes. Jesus got up from sleep and in a few words, rebuked and silenced the storm. The storm that was all noise suddenly had no more power to rage. There are a lot of lessons here, but a few will be of help here. First, go with Jesus. There are no short journeys in life; I need His help to navigate this complex world. Secondly, I need to be in Him. It is one thing to go with Him; it is a different thing to be in Him. The crowd heard him speak, but they left. The disciples walked with Him and they saw His mighty miracles. Do not be content with following the crowd; commit to surrender. That is the only path to the peace that is described in the verse above as 'perfect peacefulness'. Only in and through Christ do you get this.The world cannot give you what it does not have, and it cannot sustain that which it did not originate. Need peace? Go to the Prince of Peace. God's time of favour is here.