“Peace Be Still” were the words in my thoughts as soon as I woke to another day. Now these, are a very powerful three words.
I wrote a lengthy journal around these words based on Mark 4:35-41. Less than two hours later I received a call from my husband that our stolen vehicle was found and he was heading off to check it out and discover what would be.
“Peace Be Still” – my heart raced with a thousand thoughts. Fear, worry, so much more. I exercised the teaching the Lord had given me, clearly He is with me, and preparing me along this way.
So back to this morning, at the crack of dawn, I opened my bible to this place in Mark. I asked God to teach me. The disciples had just hopped into a boat with Jesus “let us cross over to the other side” they said, as they ventured for a brief respite.
Jesus was resting as a vicious storm hit. He was completely unaffected by the surrounding chaos. He was sleeping peacefully. The disciples, however, they frantically awoke Jesus, “Teacher, do you not CARE we are going to die?”
How many times am I in a place or moment of peace, and a storm hits. It could be something significant and huge as a bad report that a vehicle is stolen, diagnosis, or simple matters that hit so profoundly like an unpleasant task, or even a word spoken that really rocks my world. A temptation to react, to protect, to save oneself from the uncomfortable in any of these situations. “when I am afraid, I will trust in You” Psalms
It seems the disciples reacted and failed to realize who Jesus was in ALL HIS FULLNESS. Fully God! Fully caring, fully powerful and able, full of authority, full of perfect love.
“don’t you CARE… that we are perishing”? Wow. That hit me. For Jesus came into this sickened world of sin for the very reason that HE CARED.
“For God so loved the world He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life” Jn. 3:16
Jesus cares about our eternal souls and this is why He came. He came to save!
Trust His authority and power over my entire life.
He is with me. He is not affected by the storms of life. In three Words, with full authority and power He calms a storm. May I invite Him to do the same for me in each storm of life.
Jesus cares about my entire being. It’s the internal heart and soul that matters most. This is what He ultimately wants a sinner to believe – that He came to save us from the sentence of death and perishing, unto everlasting life. Should we genuinely call out, “Lord save me”.
Jesus Words: “Peace, Be Still”. Then He proceeded with “why are you so fearful?”
The disciples hadn’t yet grasped the cross and the risen Lord, as that was still yet to come.
I have received the gospel message, and experienced the full saving work of the cross and resurrection life. I will not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus is with me. I follow Him. He guides me with His wisdom, power, love, and authority.
He gives rest. The rest in knowing I am SECURE in Salvation and the benefits of His continued saving work until I meet Him in heaven in perfection to live forever.
I must learn to rest in believing His rule and authority over my life. Rest in knowing He provides the internal steady security as an anchor for my soul. “Do not fear” – “Peace, Be Still”
Once the disciples saw the storm stilled, they feared. With a holy awe and reverent fear – the realization of the identity of Christ Jesus – HE IS GOD! Have faith. Trust in Him.
The disciples had much to learn. So do I. Through every trial and storm, through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples were strengthened in the inward man (so am I) to accomplish their mission – the spreading of the gospel as the hands and feet of Jesus. May I hold to my identity – SAVED BY CHRIST, ADOPTED CHILD OF THE KING MOST HIGH.
Physically, emotionally, they were challenged with persecution. Their focus was not on the physical or the things of this world – their focus was on the saving work of Jesus who saves men’s souls!
My husband called. He sent pictures. Our vehicle was abandoned. Completely stripped. Used for a time. Abused. All the good – the walking sticks he collected to aide him on our hikes, our son’s binoculars, the cross our sons had given him with the words “thankful for dad”, other extremely personal items, pictures, all had been taken away. Memories attached, near and dear to our tender hearts. A whole lot of trash left! Stripped the entire insides out of the vehicles. It hurts deeply. Fear wanted to creep in, but we looked immediately to the ONE, Who I will say again, has all power and AUTHORITY.
God gave us this van after I was t-boned about 8 years ago, (and spared my life and spared physical injury after the other car pushed against my seat and I felt the crushing in on me, only for it to “STOP” just before going any further into my leg, as the vehicle veered off! God’s mighty hand) and my car destroyed. The van was a gift for a time. He gave. It has been taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. He loads us with benefits, and we count the millions of them today – most important our Salvation.
As we looked to this devotional from the Word of God, and we look to the vehicle and the physical things, “wordly” goods (except for the bible – which we hope someone out there will find, even still, and open, read, and be saved! And the POWER OF “THE” CROSS – wonder working power) Destroyed. Perished.
These words came to me for my son:
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
No one can take away JESUS. And Jesus will never abandon us, leave us or forsake us. He works all things together for His good for the called according to His will. (Romans 8:28). We do not understand the why’s. But we do understand the WHO! HE IS GOD! He is working for the good of our lives, souls, and we will learn, have learned, will continue to learn, and grow in Christ through it all. He will strengthen us through the trials and in the midst of worldly chaos…
we can turn to JESUS and recall His every Word – and because of Him, “Peace, Be Still” – “Know that I am God” – “fear not, trust Him” – Reverence Him as Lord over all.
People, have no power to injure the soul. The body is a small matter, worldly goods too, in comparison with the soul. Don’t be alarmed over temporal things. But rather fear God, who can destroy both soul and body forever.
The wickedness done to us, has not harmed us. It hurts, and Jesus knows. I love the benefits of a soul anchored in Christ. He will use EVERY thing in our lives, to draw us to greater faith in Him!!
I pray others will know the forgiveness, mercy, grace, of Jesus Christ. No matter the crime, no matter how “seemingly” small in our eyes or horrific, sin is sin. It means we have missed the mark of perfection. God the Only Perfect One. With the Perfect remedy. Turn from sin, repent, and turn to Christ as Lord. Be saved now and for all eternity.
Build your life on the Rock –
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
-We Are SCHOOLING ON THE ROCK
