A Calming Influence

 Because it is springtime in Nebraska, almost daily, we get to experience some wild weather. Last night was one such adventure .  As usual, my grandsons, (9 & 12 ) went with me to church.  All three of us love the classes and the fellowship. Shortly after arriving, we were serenaded by weather alerts...one after another. Then talk of tornadoes, warnings and watches and concern about sightings and damage by funnels on the ground. The tension and anxiety was tangible. Everyone  was concerned, some left for home, others paced anxiously looking at the windows. Suddenly I felt the tension rising in me. I was anxious . Having lived in Nebraska 20+ years,I am not afraid of storms so why be nervous ?  No, I am not afraid, but my youngest grandson is and I was anxious for him. He was visibly shaking. When the warning sirens began blaring, he began to cry. He was terrified.  He was worried about his mom and his dog, and his house....all the same worries adults have. Trying to distract him didn't seem to work. Offering comfort and assurance that God was taking care of us was what I had to offer....but he needed more.  We called his mom, who offered the same assurances. She offered to pick him up but he wanted to stay. He simply needed to hear her voice.  That 30 second phone call calmed him immediately. 

Sometimes we just need to "hear" the voice of calm...the voice of peace...the voice of courage. All things our God provides  in His word. In the familiar  Mark 6  we see the apostles in a boat along with the sleeping Messiah when a storm arises. The text says they were frightened.  Ah but then.... They woke up Jesus and He spoke to the storm.  They needed to hear their Master's voice and when they did, storms were calmed...both the one within and the one without. The power of His Voice is rooted in relationship. In John 10:4 Jesus tells us He is the shepherd and His sheep KNOW His voice. He reiterates this in verse 14, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me".  But notice, this communication is relationship driven.  If you don't have a relationship with Him, if you don't know Him, you won't recognize that voice.  Some only hear the voice of the world because that is what they relate to. They spend countless hours building this relationship  and that is where they feel comfortable. But, the voice of the world  offers no comfort (in fact it often does the opposite).  There is nothing the world can tell us that will give us peace, comfort and courage. How much Bitcoin we have or how many cars we own or the square footage of our real estate does nothing but placate us with promises of peace.  And even that is fleeting..,here today and gone tomorrow. James 4:4 tells us that friendship with the world makes us enemies with God.

But, I need a permanent peace, I need to have a long-lasting, unwavering courage and comfort I can count on! The Prince of Peace is my  Shepherd and He gives this and more. With Him, I no longer am fearful and anxious. Storms no longer cause a trembling inside me. "But you Lord are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high I call out to the Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain. I lie down and sleep:I wake again because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear....." Psalms 3:3-5. 

There is absolutely no storm, no conflict that He is not master over.  Compared to the stormy weather in King David's life, our storms seem trivial.  But even "trivial" rain showers can destroy a garden, drench a soul and break a heart...the storm can sometimes wash away our sense of worth and leave us in puddles of doubt. I have not always worn my rain coat or taken my umbrella.  But once the storm was past, then the Son not only comes to help with the cleanup, He stays to get me storm ready in case the skies darken again.  I am so grateful He stays. His presence means I can face future storms with courage forever and always. After all, He promises He will never leave me forsake me Hebrews 13:5.

And then in Psalms 91, we read "I will say of the Lord, "He us my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust...". AND "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge,  HIS FAITHFULNESS WILL BE YOUR SHIELD " 

Our relationship with God  means He holds us in His hand and nothing can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28)   As long as we stay in His hand, we can weather any storm! 

Blessings,

Neva



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