CALM IN THE STORM
INTRODUCTION
Calm in the storm is needful in the hour in which we live; in which there is turmoil, chaos, and violence, with little concern for human life so miraculously created by God. In the eye of the 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 in one’s life can become of such a nature when one’s life is tuned into the Peace-Giver.
Calm in the Storm
Perseverance
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, 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 Instead of
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 16:27). Peace is the steadiness of mind under stress, quiet and calm, not stormy; undisturbed, not agitated or excited.
A storm can be a product of human society, such as 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 anchored in 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 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 turns to the Peace-Giver.
Stormy Path
We are experiencing turmoil, terror, and confusion in a world that is slowly easing God, and 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 as to who will be the ultimate dominating factor.
We are witnessing a cancel culture to erase the history of mankind that is not acceptable to the ruling faction. We are witnessing the programming of the mind to accept the culture that fits into the agenda of those seeking control. Hitler attempted to fit the world into his ideal of a perfect race; destroying millions in the process of elimination of the so called undesirables.
His idealism still survives even though he failed in his endeavor of bringing such into fruition. Others have made similar endeavors, and failed, yet their goals live on; such as Marxism, Socialism, and Communism. Thank God for those who are in opposition towards domination of mankind in what would amount to slavery of man.
Deliverance
The Psalmist wrote of who is able to bring calm in the storm: O Lord God, who is a strong Lord like you; or to your faithfulness round about you? You rule the raging of the sea; when the wave thereof rises, 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; in so doing God can use man to accomplish such, if He so chooses; but if man is utilized he 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 (God), they trusted, and you did deliver them (Psalm 22:4).
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.
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 of God 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 (the 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 that 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 wrote: He that dwells in the secret places 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, or the pestilence that walks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes (lays waste) at noonday.
Because 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 (near) to your dwelling; for he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
Out of Darkness
The Prophet Isaiah foreseen a time when Israel would arise out of 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, 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 according to His Word.
Nations, who have walked away from God’s blessings, having allowed the evilness of man to engulf the land, rather than be in opposition to such, However, God’s Word continues to open the door of 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). While this was addressed to the nation of Israel it is applicable to all who will call upon the name of the Lord.
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.
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). The Lord is pictured pouring out His judgment; yet is a stronghold (a calm in the storm) in the day of trouble to all too all who will trust in Him. The Prophet predicted both judgment and hope conditioned on man’s response.
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