“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.” (Mark 4:37-38a ESV)
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of you hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:16b-17 ESV)
“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:58-59 ESV)
What is this peace Jesus possessed that would cause Him to sleep in the middle of a disturbance while at sea? What kind of peace did the three Hebrew boys have when faced with the fiery furnace? What makes a man, in the middle of being stoned to death, look to heaven and say, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”? How is it that a person can still smile and go on knowing well that the circumstances aren’t looking good?
Distresses are all over the world, everyone is experiencing some type of disturbance in their lives. Whether it’s related to work, school, emotions, bills, or health, we all have some type of inconvenience that causes some type of stress. All of these can have a significant impact on our lives, but if and only if we give them the power to do so. If we choose to allow it, circumstances can spiral our lives out of control and make us feel as if there’s no end in sight.
The good news is, we don’t have to let our circumstances have such an effect on us. Thanks to Jesus Christ, the peace that Jesus promised is freely and graciously available to us! In John 14:27, Jesus took that which belonged to Him and shared it with us, saying, “My peace, I give to you.”
The Key:
The key to the peace is knowing who controls ALL things and knowing that you belong to the One Who controls all things. Knowing this makes all the difference in the world. In John 8:14, Jesus declares, “I know where I come from and I know where I am going.” We can rest in our sure knowledge that all is “Good” because no matter what, God really does have our backs and cares for what’s on our hearts!
God offers this peace to everyone who puts their faith in His Son Jesus. The Bible tells us that once we confess Jesus as Lord, we are born again, a new creation, no longer enemies with God but children of God. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! “The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him” (1 John 3:1). Through this, we now can rest in peace in the midst of whatever disturbances come our way because we know that our God is Almighty, All Powerful, and All Knowing.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)
What a way to live, knowing that no matter what happens, I can be always resting in peace because Jesus has now become my very source of life! Whether in Life or in Death, Rich or Poor, Sickness or Health, with God all things are possible! Rest my Friend, Rest
