Got Problems? Find Peace.

Mark 4:39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Life is full of storms.  We go through seasons that feel like they are tossing us back and forth. That we’re being battered on rocks, and having giant waves crash over us.  One after another.  We feel like all we can do is try not to drown.

You may be facing one of these storms right now.  You may be in the middle of the worst thing you’ve ever had to face.

It is normal to have an emotional response when we face hurts.  Often we want to scream, or shut down, or throw in the towel.

That’s what the disciples did. When the storm came and they were frightened and unsure, they flipped out.  The started screaming in a panic.  They woke Jesus up, frantically yelling at Him, “Jesus, don’t you care?!”

Jesus woke up from his nap, and the Bible tells us, He rebuked the wind and the waves.  Some translations say “Quiet down!” Others, say that Jesus simply said, “Peace!”.

Either way, it’s clear that Jesus is telling the storm to knock it off.

But, I don’t think Jesus was telling just the storm to calm down.  It doesn’t seem like a coincidence to me that the words Jesus uses to calm the storm, are the exact words that the disciples needed to hear too.

It’s as if He is saying to his friends, “Quiet down. Peace.  Be still.”

Why?  Because Jesus knows what He can do.  He knows He has the authority to calm the wind and rain.  He can stop the storms with just a word from His mouth.

He is telling His disciples, “Just quit freaking out. I’m right here.”

He doesn’t tell them they're crazy.  He never says anything to make them feel like the storm wasn’t a valid concern.  It’s not like they were imagining it.  It’s just that He is stronger than the storm.

He never says, “What storm?”  All He says is, “Peace, don’t you have faith in me?”

How often are we just like the disciples?  When we face storms in life, do we flip out?  Panic?  Anticipate that we’re not going to make it?

I know that there have been times in my life that when I’m facing something difficult or scary, my initial thought is “Why God, how could you let this happen?”  It is as if I immediately lose the trust I have that God can see me through.

Jesus says, “Peace.  Have faith in me.”

He isn’t telling us that what we’re going through isn’t hard.  He doesn’t condemn us for facing difficult, painful situations.

But He does want us to be reminded that we can peace in the storm. Because we know the one who is stronger than the storm.

There is no guarantee that we will live a storm free life. But, we can know that when we do face storms, we can do our best to stay calm and say, “Well, this stinks.  But I trust that God has the best plan in mind.”

Then go to Him with it.  Thankfully, He doesn’t sleep on our problems.  And we don’t have to yell at him as if the sky is falling.

He knows what is happening, and he’s got the power to care for you.