Rest in Peace
The week had been difficult. A regular monthly expense was considerably increasing just as our money tree seemed to have dropped all its leaves. There was job turmoil. An adult child’s relationship had unexpectedly broken up, and my child seemed broken now, too.
Lord, I cried out in prayer, I need some peace. Don’t You care about me?
I closed my eyes as I felt God’s presence draw near. Daughter, I sensed Him saying, you are looking for peace as the world gives. I do not give to you that way.
It was true. At that moment, I thought having peace meant He would provide more financial resources and an eternally steady job market, and there would be no relationship difficulties. A verse threaded through my mind. “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
I get it, Lord. I’ll have all of that—later. But how can I quiet my anxious, earth-anchored heart right now?
Mark 4:35–40 shares the familiar story of Jesus in the boat with His disciples after telling them they would go together to the other side of the lake. Partway there, the disciples became frightened by the fierce wind and waves, their scary circumstances. They woke Jesus and asked,
“Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (vv. 38–39)
I’m encouraged that Jesus rebuked the wind, not His disciples for their worry. That freed me not to rebuke myself for my fears, either. Instead, Jesus asked them to consider their fear in light of their faith and all they had experienced with and through Him. He turned their eyes from their circumstances to the One who is master of them all (v. 41). As I reread that passage, He turned my eyes that way, too.
Jesus can undoubtedly quell any squall in our lives, and sometimes He does. But we should not look for a world-given, removal-of-tough-circumstances kind of peace, which I’d slipped into expecting. Instead, His peace is firmly anchored in the knowledge that He is always with us in the boat, and that He will sustain us, carry us, and rescue us (Isaiah 46:4) from now until we reach the other shore, where our worries will be no more.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
JOHN 14:27
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“Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the person who trusts in him!” Psalm 34:8