As I write these words today, it is raining outside. Rain can affect people in different ways depending upon the season and the person. It is the month of June, so this rain comes in the summer. And as you know, summer can produce afternoon thunderstorms that can be violent at times, causing power outages and fear in young children. Yet, the rain I’m experiencing today has no thunder or lightning. It’s a peaceful sort of rain, the kind that can calm you if you are in the right state of mind. It’s the type of rain I prefer the most if I had to choose because of the inner serenity that it brings.
There is so much in our world that causes the opposite. Fear and anxiety are extremely common and have multiple causes. They seem not to discriminate when it comes to their victims. We also read in Scripture of an enemy who seeks to “steal, kill, and to destroy,” to fill our minds and hearts with chaos and doubt rather than trust in an Almighty God and his plan for our lives. The result is that so many people lack the kind of inner peace that I mentioned earlier, a peace that causes us to relax and know that all will ultimately be well with our lives and our world, that there is a God who is in control of both.
And yet, if you read the Bible, you’ll notice that inner peace is something that Jesus seeks to give us the most, something that he longs for us to experience even during times of chaos. I’m reminded of the raging storm the disciples experience and Jesus’ response to it. It is notable that Jesus sleeps through this violent storm, that it seemingly has no effect on his inner being. And when he is awakened by the disciples, his command to the storm is “peace be still.” Sudden and overwhelming peace is the result, the same peace he had been experiencing as he slept, the opposite of the fear and panic being felt by the disciples.
We live in the in between times. As a minister, I constantly remind people of this truth. This world is not the finished product. It is not our ultimate home. There is a heavenly home that is being prepared for us by Jesus and this will be a place where there will be no more sin, conflict, sickness, or anything that causes difficulty or grief. Heaven will contain perfect peace. And yet, it is extremely important to understand that it is not God’s desire that we wait until Heaven to experience this peace. He wants to give us his peace now. He wants us to choose his peace today. In our lives here on Earth, he wants to provide us with a peace that “surpasses understanding” through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
Such a peace comes through trust, there can be no doubt. It comes as a result of spending time with him, of abiding in Christ, of walking in step with his Spirit. This peace is experienced when we are reminded of the Lord’s constant presence and his countless promises that cannot be broken. This kind of peace makes life more enjoyable as we experience joy in him. It’s a type of peace that causes people who do not have it or do not yet know Christ to stop and ask themselves what it is that makes us different, who it is that makes us different, what we have that they do not yet have.
If you are filled more with fear or anxiety today, did you know that your Heavenly Father desires the opposite? Did you know that he wants to supply you with peace instead, with peace that is stronger that your chaos and uncertainty? “Peace be still,” is what Jesus says to the storm that is literally petrifying his disciples. He is saying that to your storm today. Trust that it is true. Keep walking with him. Christ is with you and has promised to never leave. Continue seeking his face on a regular basis, a daily basis, a momentary basis. As you do, the likelihood is that you will begin experiencing a peace that you cannot explain, and that this peace begins to “rule” in your heart as a result.