CALM IN THE STORM
INTRODUCTION
Calm in the storm is needful in the hour in which we live that is experiencing turmoil, chaos, and extreme violence, with little care for human life that God so miraculous created in His image. In the eye of a storm there is calm because the strong surface winds that converge towards the center never reach it.
The force within deflects the wind away from the center, causing the wind to rotate around the center of the storm instead of outward where most of it goes. The calm in the storm of one’s life can become of such a nature when one’s life is tuned into the Peace-Giver!
Calm in the Storm
Persevere in Faithfulness
Jesus said: You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, and pestilences (deadly diseases), and earthquakes, in divers (various) places. All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:5-8).
It was noted that Jesus described the characteristics of the time leading to the end of the age. He said there would be religious deception, political unrest, natural disasters, wars, and the persecution of believers in Him. In the face of all these happenings, Jesus encouraged believers to persevere in faithfulness, finding calm in the storm, in His name!
Peace versus Anxiety
Jesus said: Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 15:27). Peace is the steadiness of mind under stress; quiet or calm, not stormy; undisturbed, not agitated or excited.
A storm can become be a violent product of human society, as a civil, political, domestic commotion, sedition, insurrection, or war, imposing violent outbreak, clamor, or tumult, that would bring destruction and havoc in one’s life; if one is not tuned into the Peace-Giver! Scripture records a moment in the lives of Jesus’ disciples, when they became fearful and afraid in the midst of a storm.
There rose a great tempest (storm) in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves, but he (Jesus) was asleep. His disciples came to him, woke him, saying, Lord save us we perish! He said to them, why are you so troubled, why are you so fearful, you of little faith? Then he rose, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm (Matthew 8:24-26). Calm in the storm of life can readily be stilled when one comes to the Peace-Giver!
Stormy Path
We are experiencing turmoil, terror, and confusion in a world that is slowing easing God, and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, out of its equation, allowing the ungodly to gain the upper hand; those who seek to dominate, with a power struggle ensuing as to who will be the ultimate dominating factor!
We are seeing a cancel culture to erase the history of mankind that is not acceptable to the ruling faction! We are seeing the programming of the youth to accept a culture that fits the agenda of those seeking control!
Hitler attempted to fit the world into his ideal of the perfect race; destroying millions in the process towards elimination of the undesirables. A faction of his idealism still survives after his effort failed. Others have similar endeavors, their goals living on; even after the originator's demise (Example: Marxism, Socialism, and Communism).
Deliverance
The Psalmist wrote of who is able to bring calm in the storm: O Lord God, who is a strong Lord like to you; or to your faithfulness round about you? You rule the raging of the sea; when the wave thereof arise, you calm them (Psalm 89:8-9). They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits end. They cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses. He makes the storm calm, so that the waves are still (Psalm 107:27-29).
God’s Word consistently turns one’s attention to God to calm the storm and points out the feebleness of man’s efforts to do so! God can use man to accomplish His desires, if He so chooses; but of so, will equip him for the task at hand! The Psalmist knew who to turn to when distress and anguish came His way. He stated: Our fathers trusted in you, they trusted, and you did deliver them (Psalm 22:4)!
A Strong Tower
In a poem titled: "This too will Pass Away" by an unknown author, are found these words: If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me, no matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment may be. If I can remain calm and quiet with my entire world crashing about me secure in the knowledge God loves me.
If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true that darkness will fade with the morning and that this will pass away too; then nothing in life can defeat me. For as long as this knowledge remains I can suffer whatever is happening, for I know God will break all the chains that are binding me tight in the darkness trying to fill me with fear.
For there is no night, without dawning and I know that my morning is near. Scripture reveals: The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it, and is safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Armor of God
Apostle Paul wrote: Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood (humanity), but against principalities (rulers), against powers (authorities), against the rulers (world-leaders) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness (wicked spiritual beings) in high places (Satan and his cohorts).
Wherefore take you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand (Ephesians 6:10-13)! The armor consists of: Truth, Breastplate of righteousness, Gospel of peace, Shield of faith, Helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:14-17).
Weapons of Warfare
Apostle Paul noted: Though we walk (live) in the flesh (in a body), we do not war (fight) after (according to) the flesh (human standards). The weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh), but mighty through God to the tearing down of strongholds; casting down imaginations (arguments), of every high thing what exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
The Psalmist, in the 91st Psalm, noted that God is a refuge and a fortress to the believer: He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in him will I trust. You shall not be afraid for (of) the terror by night, nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes (lays waste) at noonday.
Became you have made the Lord, your refuge, even the Most High your habitation (dwelling place). There shall no evil befall you, neither any plague come nigh to your dwelling; for he shall keep his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways!
Arise out of Darkness
The Prophet Isaiah foreseen a time when Israel would arise out of her darkness and shine with God’s glory; in saying: Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. Behold, the darkness (evilness) shall cover the earth; but the Lord shall rise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you (Isaiah 60:1-2). This could readily apply to any nation that is shining forth with the glory of God being its benefactor; who has not forsaken His ways, allegiance to His name, or walking in accordance with His Word!
For nations; who have walked away from the His blessings, having allowed the evilness of man to engulf the land, rather than be in opposition to such; God’s Word opens the door for repentance: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and turn away from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Path of Storm
The Prophet Jeremiah cried out: O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved, How long shall your vain (wicked) thoughts lodge with you (Jeremiah 4:14)? It was noted that such thinking today can arise from many sources: Absorbing immoral movies and television; carelessly surfing the Internet; listening to malicious talk; ignoring the Word of God; giving into a materialistic worldview.
Will we allow the sanctifying Scriptures and the purifying blood of Christ to cleanse our heart and mind or will we persist in sin-filled thinking and experience God's judgment? Where there is no fear of God, no reverence for God, every evil can and will abound.
The idea that we humans will be good without God is a deceptive fallacy. When people are devoid of the knowledge and wisdom that come from believing God and having reverence for Him, they become morally corrupt, exceedingly evil, violent and destructive.
Bombardment of Evil
We are seeing a bombardment of evilness in many lands; with characteristics described by Apostle Peter: Those who walk after (according to) the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, who speak evil of the things that they understand not; who shall utterly perish in their own corruption (ways). Spots they are and blemishes, sporting (reveling) themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; beguiling (enticing) unstable souls, while they promise liberty, they themselves are the servants of destruction (2 Peter 2:10-19).
The calm in the storm from such devilment is remaining faithful to the Peace-Giver, the Lord Jesus Christ; and not giving in to the pressures of this world. Peter wrote: Seeing you know these things (what is forthcoming), beware lest you (the believer) also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17).
Judgment and Hope
In reference to a calm in the storm, the Prophet Nahum wrote: The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked; the Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm (destruction of the ungodly) (Nahum 1:3); the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows them that trust in him (Nahum 1:7).
It was noted that the Lord is pictured pouring out His judgment; yet is a stronghold (a calm the storm) in the day of trouble to all who trust in Him. The Prophet predicted both judgment and hope conditioned on man’s response to God! The Psalmist wrote: The eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy (Psalm 33:18). Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according was we hope in you (Psalm 33:22).
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