Peace...Be Still

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Is your life unsettled?

People today are overwhelmed and scattered leading to dysfunction

Is your life filled with distractions?

Do unsettling thoughts fill your mind?

Does anxiety fill your heart?

Is there peace in the storm?

Storms can come to those who are out of the will of God (i.e., Jonah).

Storms can come to those who are in the will of God (the disciples, Paul the apostle).

Is your soul restless?

Is there rest for your soul?

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Elijah’s runs to God

1 Kings 19:1–18 NKJV

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:11–18 NKJV

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The Farmer’s Lost Watch (Illustration)

A farmer lost his watch in the barn. The watch had great sentimental value, so he searched for it to no avail.

He heard some kids playing outside, and explained to them about his watch, and asked if they would help him find it. They all searched but could not find the watch. The farmer thanked them for their help and sent them off. As they were leaving, one little boy asked if he could try again. The farmer decided to give him another chance, and the boy returned to the barn.

About half an hour later, the boy walked out of the barn with the watch. The farmer was amazed, and asked how he could find it when so many had been looking and failed? The boy replied, “I didn’t do anything...I just sat in the silence and listened. Eventually, I heard the ticking of the watch, and followed the sound.”

Sometimes, if you just sit quietly, we will hear the “ticking” of our Savior’s promptings, leading us to the truth and helping us on our way.

[Jane Fowler Whitehead Giggles & Mustard Seeds (August 20, 2023 Facebook]

Be still and meditate in your heart

Psalm 4:4 NKJV

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Don’t sin in your anger toward others.

Be still and consider that God will judge righteously.

Be still and know that God is God

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Deuteronomy 4:39 NKJV

Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth

He is the Redeemer.

He is the Judge of all.

He is Sovereign.

He is all-knowing (Omniscient).

He is all-present (Omnipresent).

He is all-powerful (Omnipotent).

Be still and know that God is holy

Nehemiah 8:11 NKJV

So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”

Be still and consider that God is not like us.

Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Be still and believe

Mark 4:40 NKJV

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Believing is not inaction. Believing is trusting in God rather than self and others.

Faith trusts that Jesus is in the boat with you, and He will help you make it to the other side.

Be still and see the salvation of the LORD

Exodus 14:13 NKJV

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.

Response to the Word

Don’t live an unsettled life. Jesus offers rest for your soul.

Get rid of distractions, worry, fear, anxiety, and wrong priorities.

Run to Jesus in your chaos and distress.

Be still and meditate in your heart.

Be still and know that God is God.

Be still and know that God is holy.

Be still and believe in God and His word

Be still and see the salvation of the LORD.

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