“… “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm [a perfect peacefulness]”
This is part of a scripture that relates when Jesus calmed the sea (Matthew 9:23-27, AMP – also Mark 4:35-41). I quoted this in a recent post (STORMS) but this is what captured my eye: fear v. calm and peacefulness… a twofer.
Face it. We all are afraid at times, despite our wanting to demonstrate that we aren’t, that we do have faith, that we can be strong and courageous. But, look at what the Lord does for us… He provides a wonderful calm, a perfect peacefulness. And this is true. In the midst of our lives, sometimes when we are seeking this and other times when we desperately need it – the peace of the Lord descends and envelopes us. One of the effects from this is that we can see more clearly… which translates into being able to face whatever is in our path.
This is my ‘twofer’ because He not only delivers us from fear but replaces it with two very strong deterrents to fear: calm and peacefulness. And it is in the calm, the peace that we find strength, we find whatever it is that is needed in our ‘now’. This is a time, a state that floods us, refreshes us so that we continue in confidence. Another example of what our exchange accomplishes.
“Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’ (Isaiah 41:10, AMP)
‘Anything’ kinda covers … everything! We really don’t realize all that is entailed in our new lives, who we become as a result of accepting Jesus as Lord. We are all that is necessary.
My best (favorite) scriptural foundation is found in 2 Timothy 1:7, AMP
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].”
Even during the storms of life we are equipped and enabled to handle them. When we take our eyes off of ourselves and our situations and place them on Who is with us – the Lord – fear will never be the result. While all around us may be chaotic or may try and persuade us that our condition if hopeless, this scripture refutes it. We aren’t a quivering mass but we have been made strong because of the spirit in us that gives us the power of love, sound judgment and personal discipline. And what’s more we can do this from a foundation of calm and peacefulness… no stress, no striving. We are well able!
