Calm After Storm?

Scriptures: [Jesus said,] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Acts 20:35)

The other day, as I stepped out into the parking lot in front of our office, I saw on a frame for license plate these words, “Calm After Storm.” For some reason, it reminded me of a story of a painting contest I heard some time ago.

The theme of the contest was “Peace.” One young artist put on the canvas a beautiful picture of a peaceful lake where the mountains on the far end are clearly reflected in the water. Everyone who saw this picture could definitely feel the peacefulness of that beautiful scenery.

But, to everyone’s surprise, the winner of the contest was not this picture. The prize went to a picture where raging water came off the cliff to form a thunderous waterfall. And, right next to the waterfall was a small branch on which a nest was built and a little bird was sleeping in it, in spite of the raging water and its noise.

I think the message could not be clearer. True peace is not the ability to be calm when nothing happens. True peace is the ability to remain calm even when everything else in life is going crazy and out of control. I like to think of peace as the ability to resist the temptation of dancing with our circumstances.

Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this world. But, if we remain in Him, we will have peace. Contrary to what many may think, peace and trouble are not mutually exclusive in our lives. They actually co-exist. The question is which one do we choose.

Trouble is part of our life, a reality we face everyday. No one likes it. But no one can be immune to it, either. A friend of mine recently lost her father. Another friend’s husband needs a bypass surgery soon to avoid amputation on his leg. Still another has been suffering from back pain, so sever that he has to stay in bed for days every so often.

I think we will find these situations in just about every corner we turn in life. While we empathize with them, we know we may one day find ourselves in these circumstances also. What will our days be like then? Will we still be able to enjoy the peace of mind as we do now?

Jesus acknowledged the reality of having trouble in life. But, troublesome life is not what He had in mind for us. Peaceful one is. The secret to a peaceful life, He said, was to remain “in” Him. If we remain in Him, we can remain calm in storm. It has nothing to do with the circumstance. It has everything to do with Him, and Him alone.

Where are we today? Sailing through a calm sea? Or, sailing through a powerful storm with thunders, lightning, and raging waves? Regardless of our circumstances, let’s anchor our lives in Him, the One who “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrew 13:8)

He never changes and the peace in Him never changes, either! True peace is “Calm In Storm!”

Prayer Requests:
For those who just lose their loved ones to illness or even death

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the shelter of peace for us in times of trouble. We ask that, through Your presence in our lives, You come and comfort those feeling overpowered by illness and death so they may also come to know You, the Prince of Peace, and Your peace and grace. In the loving name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!