Finding Peace in the storm
Finding Peace in the storm
Being chill in a crisis, isn’t stuffing feelings down, ignoring what’s happening or denying the crisis. Sometimes crisis comes in the form of loss and grief. The loss of someone we love dearly can take our breath away and our desire to go on. The loss of health or our ability to function normally or even loss of a job or career can be jarring.
In times of crisis it’s not unnatural to want to run to a friend for comfort and a shoulder to lean on. But what happens when the very loved one that we thought we could rely on shows us that the foundation of our relationship was purely transactional? We face another kind crisis. The betrayal of friends, family or your “person” is also devastating.
In Psalm 46 there is a beloved passage in which the psalmist declared that no matter what was happening around him, God was his refuge and strength. We can be safe in the assurance that He is God - even a mid chaos, He is omnipresent. In Psalm 57 David hides from his own family when his father in law seeks to hunt him down and kill him. What began as recognizing and admiring God’s hand on his son-in-law‘s life, twisted into jealousy. Make no mistake, jealousy is a very destructive evil. There’s nothing good in it.
True comfort, the deep, abiding peace, the knowing that through thick and thin, you are deeply loved and valued, that you are safe, protected and will be cared for comes only from Him who created you. In my life, being still and listening has sometimes taken me back in time and reminded me of the saving and loving hand of God. Being still and listening for me, has also ignited hope and given me glimpses of the plans that he has for me. He reminds me that His plans for all of us are good! The peace, the chill in times of chaos is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Opening your eyes to see and feel the love of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit is life-changing.
He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. Psalm 91:4
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. (David as he hid from the murderous rampage of his father-in-law) Psalm 57:1
Be still and know that I Am God. Psalm 46:10
The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made Himself known; He executes judgment; The wicked are trapped by the work of their own hands. Psalm 9:15-16
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -Jesus Matthew 19:16