They say that peace is like a river, but rivers make me
think of chaos: rushing and furious, loud and overwhelming, speeding
uncontrollably downstream. I’ve heard rivers compared to peace, but to me,
they’re anything but.
Life is like a
river, though, in that sometimes the current of time feels overwhelming, and
it’s all I can do to keep my head afloat. And sometimes, as worries and fears
speed uncontrollably through my mind, I start to flail, terrified that I am
drowning, convinced that I don’t have what it takes to stay afloat.
But then this image washes over me: Christ’s disciples on a
ship as waves twice, three times their height come crashing over the sides,
working desperately to keep the ship upright and themselves from being swept
overboard, wondering how their beloved Master could possibly be asleep,
completely oblivious to this tempest that threatens His life. Terrified, they
wake Him, only to hear His surprised response: “Why are ye fearful, oh ye of
little faith?” And when He turns to face the sea, He commands, and all is
still.
As I face my own storms, with Christ’s disciples I also
wonder: What manner of man is this? How can He remain so calm when the world
around Him is anything but? And how can He expect me to do the same?
But the Savior is not as other men. He is the Son of God,
and as I study His words I realize why the same fear that paralyzed His
disciples’ hearts did not penetrate into His own:
Because He knew who He was and what He was capable of.
Because not only did He create the earth, He came to save it
as well.
Because not only did He overcome His own death and hell, but
He overcame everyone else’s as well.
Because even as I feel like I am fighting for my very life,
the Savior has already ensured that I will rise again.
Then how can I not
feel peace?
Additional Resources:
John 16:33
No comments:
Post a Comment