Welcome to my Friends and Fellowship Serenity Summer Soiree. Each week during the months of June, July, and August plan to enjoy meeting some of my favorite writing friends and fellowship around the goodness of the Lord. This week, we are encouraged by my sweet friend and devotional writer, Lisa Blair, as she reminds us Jesus is the calm in the storms of life.
I have experienced the loss of key relationships, accompanied by the refusal to reconcile. In the beginning, the betrayal brought grief, but as I continued to give my broken heart to the Lord, He brought healing, forgiveness, and peace.
“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].”
Storms of Life
We have all experienced storms in our lives.
- The loss of relationships with refusal to reconcile
- The loss of health or work
- The loss of a loved one through death
Does Jesus Care?
“On that day, when evening had come, He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Let’s go to the other side.’ Leaving the multitude, they took Him with them, even as He was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with Him.”
“A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke Him up, and told Him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we are dying?’”
“He [Jesus] awoke, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”
The disciples were in the presence of Jesus, yet they still experienced the physical storm. Even though we live in His Presence, we will experience loss through the storms of life. The question becomes how will we respond when the storms arrive.
The disciples accused Jesus of not caring. They surrendered their heart to the turmoil, anxiety, and fear of the storm. They were overwhelmed! Jesus remained calm, at rest, and in peace. Jesus embodied serenity.
Where are we in our current storm? Is our heart in turmoil, anxious and fearful, while accusing God of not caring for us? Or is our heart calm, at rest, and in peace while giving thanks to the Lord for His goodness? We can experience serenity in the storms of our lives.
Finding Calm in the Storms of Life
Our current storm is unemployment as my husband lost his job a few weeks ago. Being a one-income household, this loss had the potential to be quite stormy, but it is not.
We are calm, undisturbed in mind, and at peace in our spirits. God has blanketed us with His serenity.
3 Ways of Finding Calm in the Storms
How do we walk in serenity amid the storm? We give thanks and worship Him for Who He is; we lean into God through His Word and we stand on His promises to us as His Beloved; and we come to the Lord in prayer.
Worship, Praise & Thanksgiving
We thank Him for Who He is and praise Him for He is worthy. We focus on Who God is. We look at Jesus and not the turmoil around us which keeps us from sinking into anxiety, fear, or despair.
“Enter His gates with a song of thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, bless and praise His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.”
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!”
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.”
Word of God
We lean into His Word for He promises to never leave us.
“It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
“You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waster at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.”
His Word gives us grace and strength to conquer every fear.
“I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous (those in right standing with God) abandoned or his descendants pleading for bread. All day long he is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a blessing.”
Prayer
We approach God’s throne of grace knowing that He hears us.
“Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience, again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts.”
The Blessings of Calm
We Walk in His Rest
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.”
We Receive His Strength
“He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
We Receive His Peace
“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”
We give God what is in our hands and He is faithful to multiply it. I can share story after story of God’s provision for us through the years. He has always provided for our needs.
We are trusting God in our present storm, and I encourage you to trust Him too. Allow His peace to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus for He is faithful! May God bless you with His peace!
References
1 Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. Retrieved July 9, 2023, from http://www.webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
Amplified Bible, Classis Edition (AMPC) Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Bible Gateway Blogger Grid Member #bgbg2 #BibleGateway
As a Christian writer, Lisa believes the power of God sets the captives free. She believes God uses His Word and the intercessory prayer of His People to further His Kingdom. Lisa desires for people to encounter Jesus’ heart, know His love, sense His presence, and live in His peace.
Lisa blogs at Strength with Dignity Home – Strength with Dignity
Devotional Bible Studies: Draw Near: 30-Days to Know God Better and Paul’s Prayers: 30 Powerful Prayers to Ignite Your Prayer Life.
Donna & Lisa, this is so encouraging. I marvel at how when we keep our eyes, focus and trust in Jesus he’s right there beside us meeting us right where we are in this particular season then moves us on to the turning of the next season.
Visiting today from G&T
He is Faithful and True, Paula! He faithfully guides us through every mountaintop, valley, triumph, and storm.
What great encouragement we can find in God’s Word when things feel out of control.l
His Word does bring hope and encouragement to our hearts, Lauren.
Donna and Lisa … thank you for this. I am continually amazed and grateful at how the Lord whispers, ‘peace, be still’ just when I need it most. You’ve given us a rich feast to take with us and unpack when the storm clouds come again. And we know they will …
Bless you friends. So good to find you together here!
The Lord is so kind to whisper peace to our hearts and minds in the midst of the storm, Linda. His peace covers us.
Lisa, I have been reading this account for over a week as it has been bringing the reminder to return to the foundational truths, tried and true. It is amazing how God blankets us in His peace, giving us all we need to weather any storms of life. May the Lord continue to provide all you and your husband need!
It is beautiful to see the Lord’s faithfulness to us when we walk through the storms of life, Joanne. He faithfully provides for all that we need – physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Thank you for your prayers of blessing.
My husband is talking about retiring sometime within the next year or so. Though he has made provision for us, I have to admit the drastic drop in income makes me a little antsy. I have to remind myself our provision always comes from God, whether through a job or another means.
That’s such a good reminder about the storms of life–Jesus is with us in the boat! We can trust everything to Him.
We can trust our Provider to take care of us whether through employment or through multiplying what is in our hands, Barbara.
Lisa, this is so heartfelt, and prayers for you and your husband. Thank you for sharing how to have peace in our storms as we know they will come but we also know we have the peace of Jesus to calm us.
Thank you for your prayers, Deborah! Yes, His peace keeps us calm, secure, and at rest in spirit and soul.
Thank you, Donna, for hosting Summer Serenity! We savor the opportunity to walk calmly with the One Who loves us above all others!
Thank you, Lisa, for showing us how leaning into God gives us His calm and peace to navigate the storms of our lives. What blessings He bestows on us when we take His word into our heart, mind, and soul.
His Word brings peace to our hearts and minds and is a balm to our souls, Lynn.