Peace is Only Peace When There is a Storm

             

(Photo by Pecos Hank: Storm Crossing - Pecos Hank)

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” - Mark 4:35-41 (ESV)

If you have any knowledge of me you know that I (Steve) am a storm freak. I love watching YouTube videos of storms - especially tornadoes. I also, may or may not, just listen to NOAA Weather Radio even when the sun is shining…

I am actually watching and listening to a compilation video right now on the Moore EF5 2013 tornado  (yes it was a 5 and not a 3) while writing this.

I blame it on my Uncle Jimmy Patterson. As a very young boy he bought for me an incredible radio for my birthday. This radio was just unbelievable. Two different FM settings, an AM setting, a local TV station setting and, of course, NOAA Weather Radio. 

It was the latter that I would listen to all day, every day, while playing in the garage with my trains, playing baseball in the field, or when going to sleep at night.

What a dork.

But, it was what happened when I was five that triggered this fascination and love of all things tornadic - I saw twins just a few miles from our house while playing in the front yard.

I was hooked. 

I watched the local weather reports each day - just hoping for another event like the one I witnessed to occur again. RIP Harold Taft…(Harold Taft - Wikipedia).

Fast forward a few decades (ugh) and I still love storms and tornadoes. I may or may not have a meteorological addiction…and some of my favorite guys to follow now are Dr. Reed Timmer, WeatherBeat with Demko/Farrar, Ryan Hall, Mitch West, Midwest Storm Chasing, Daniel Shaw, Tanner Charles, Vince Waelti, Brandon Copic, Brad Arnold, and Pecos Hank.

Pecos Hank may be my personal favorite. Home - Pecos Hank.

Why? His total calmness and ability to keep his cool when everything around him is coming undone and there is no control of the disaster that is occuring. 

While other videos have people going total bonkers and hyperventilating - it is Hank’s videos that show the majesty, power, and possible disastrous consequences of tornadoes (all while remaining quiet and in control of his emotions) which mesmerize you.

Peace in the storm.

Kind of makes sense when you consider our text from Mark’s gospel. It is an odd reference by both Mark and Matthew. It makes the disciples look silly and foolish. As if they didn’t trust that things were going to work out. The story presents those intimate followers of Jesus as lacking faith.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

We who believe in Jesus as the Son of God…we who follow Jesus as the King of kings…we who serve Jesus as the risen Savior…WE are often the ones with the least amount of faith.

Oh, sure, we can spell faith. However, we read in Hebrews 10:38: “But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him."

Ouch.

So, what do we do when the storms surround us? What do we do when the boat begins to fill with water? What can we do when Jesus is asleep? 

Well, we usually first and foremost ask God to remove the situation from us or us from the situation. We beg God to “Save us! Do you not care that we are perishing!?”  

But, it is not the storm Jesus needs to deliver us from.

It is ourselves. 

You see, peace doesn’t come from outside us. Rather, it is already within us.

Jesus says in Luke 17:21 - “the kingdom of God is inside you.” And that kingdom? Is a kingdom of peace…Romans 14:17.

Look, we all lose our cool. We all get out of control. We all let our emotions take over us at times. We say things we regret. We feel things we have remorse over.

And, it’s not that we don’t have peace - for the King of peace and the kingdom of peace are within us. The fact is, we do not act on the peace we already have. 

“My peace I give to you…”

So stop. Take a deep breath. Activate your faith. Activate your peace. Rest assured that although Jesus may seem to be “resting” he is not. 

After all, isn’t Psalm 121 true?

I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

The LORD himself watches over you!

The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

The LORD keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go,

both now and forever.

Peace be unto you…