Devotionals

Eye of the Storm

by Mary Thomas
05/01/20
Not For Sale
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Jesus calms the Storm. Matthew 8:23-27

 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! 

When life situations and our thoughts are in chaos, it can feel as if we are being swirled round and around, never settling and resting, unable to be still.

I was worrying, living with fear and I craved to know the stillness of God. Our house move was delayed again, and news was spreading of the Coronavirus around the world. 

God showed me a picture in my mind of a tornado, I could see the force of the wind swirling around, but as I watched I found myself focussing on the eye of the storm. That completely still place in the middle of a tornado where the wind dies down and all is still. 

‘This is where I want You to rest’, I felt My father whisper to me. ‘This is My safe place, the place of Peace where all is calm’. 

I longed to be in that place where my Father was. He was in the midst of the storm, resting, everything under His control. I remembered the story in the Bible where Jesus and His disciples were in the boat whilst a storm raged around them. Jesus was asleep! In their panic and terror, the disciples called out to Jesus asking if He didn’t care that they might drown.

Do you relate to this? Are you like one of the disciples in the boat, questioning if God really cares or even knows the storm you are experiencing in your life? 

In the Bible story Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm saying, ‘Be still!’ And the storm died down demonstrating His sovereignty over chaos.

Now, we may not physically be on stormy seas, but life can feel like we are. Jesus may not immediately stand up and still our storm, but He can be our safe place in the midst of the howling winds.

That’s exactly where He wants us to be, unaffected by all that is around us. Totally safe in His Presence, trusting that He is more than able to lead us beside still waters, to rest.

Does your heart cry out for peace? Real peace only comes with the Presence of our Saviour, who promises to give us His Peace that is beyond understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

Ask Him, He knows where you are, He knows exactly what is going on in your life, and He delights to draw near and still your restless heart. 

‘Father, draw us into Your place of Peace, in the midst of our storms. That still quiet place where Your Presence is tangibly felt. You love to draw us near, help us to shelter in You even when the winds of fear and trouble are surrounding us. Thank You Lord, You are the Master of chaos, nothing is outside of Your control. Help us to lean into You and trust You more. Amen’