Peace in the Midst of the Storm

September 10, 2013

 

 

Christianity is not a "feel-good" religion.  It is a "take up your cross and follow Me" endeavor of faith.  Religion versus faith:  there is a difference. 

 

If you are at peace in every area of your life, then you are not growing.  You have dropped your cross to pursue other things. 

"Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27)

 

Now some will say, "Well then I must be growing all the time."  Don't get me wrong, God will allow us to reap what we have sown.  He allows the disturbances in our lives that have been wrought by our sin to work themselves out.   Because we, as Christians, are given the opportunity to have our sins forgiven, does not mean that their effects are removed from our lives nor the consequences incurred by them.  

 

However, this is not to say that all turmoil and disturbances of our peace are products of our own sin.  Many times, it is the product of other people's sin, but, like all effects of sin, it branches out and affects all those around us, possibly even generations after the fact.

 

"The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; Who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations."  (Exodus 34:6)

 

Yet sometimes, it is just life itself.  And more often than not, it is God trying to get our attention about an area of our life that needs to be worked on.  We are all flawed and we are all works in progress, therefore we all have areas of our lives that call for improvement.

 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

 

The point is, as Christians, our peace is to be found in the midst of the storm, not by making our focus on avoiding the storm altogether.  God's ways are contrary to the ways of the world.  Whilst the world would tell us to consume ourselves with avoiding the storm at all costs, God tells us to cast our burden upon Him and that He will sustain us, rain or shine.

 

"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." (Psalm 55:22)

 

Storms will come and go, but we are to weather them by giving God the opportunity to fulfill His promises to save us in times of trouble and to be our Rock of Salvation in our time of need.  In so doing, God is glorified and we are strengthened through spiritual refinement.

 

"He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. " (Psalm 62:2)

 

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  (Psalm 18:2)

 

"Then the LORD said, 'Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock'" (Exodus 33:21)

 

"For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock."  (Psalm 27:5)

 

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my Deliverer; My God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence."  (2 Samuel 22:3)

 

"He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." (Deuteronomy 32:4)

 

"There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God."  (1 Samuel 2:2)

 

"You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation."  (Psalm 89:26)

 

"Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress."  (Psalm 71:3)

 

"Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me."  (Psalm 31:3)

 

As Christians, we glorify God by holding on to His promises

and our peace whilst the storm rages all around us.

 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)