PREVAILING PEACE OVER STORMS

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “PEACE BE STILL!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm – Mark 4:39 (NKJV)

Storms vary in size, strength, and impact. In life’s contexts, storms may come in the forms of economic, financial, political, or social storms. People face storms of physical affliction, emotional turmoil, and demonic attack. Life’s storms hinder progress, and put people under intense pressure, tossing them to and fro. In the natural, some people have devised ways of predicting storms, or controlling and reducing the extent of damage they cause. By applying different precautionary measures, they are able to survive the devastating impact. The same is true regarding God’s protective safeguards against the storms of life.

The Prince of Peace has the power to stop every storm. On this occasion, Jesus instructed His disciples to board the ship and “pass over unto the other side” (vs. 35). Midway into the journey, a GREAT STORM of winds and waves arose, threatening to sink their ship. Ultimately, the Lord’s intervention brought calmness into the storm. He rebuked the wind – the invisible force behind the waves, and then commanded the sea “Peace, be still”! The bible records that “the wind ceased, and there was a GREAT CALM” (vs. 39). The Lord meets every great storm with great calm. He conquers every opposition with commensurate release of His Power and Peace! He is able to calm both the storm around you and the storm within you. The greater the storm, the greater the calm the Lord commands.

Storms oppose progress: on the journey to marriage, in the course of career, or in the path of ministry. In Mark 4, the storm confronted the ministry team upon whom the future of the church depended. It was a threat to their lives as well as their destinies and assignments. The real danger is in being caught by a storm on the sea of life without Jesus in the ship. The disciples were privileged to have His Presence in the ship. So the storm that arose against them was a storm against the Lord, and the all-knowing Master was quick to intervene.

God is our Refuge from the storm (Isa.25:4). With His protection we can overcome every trial with the calm assurance that He who shields us cannot be moved. This gives us peace no matter how turbulent our situations may be. Divine Presence is the key to living in victory over and above the storms of life. When Jesus is reigning at the helm of your life’s affairs, against all odds, you will surely and safely reach destination. Like the Master Jesus, you must no longer be silent against the storms, but always arise and boldly command, “PEACE, BE STILL” and there shall be great calm!