Advent Day 12: Welcome Peace

Good morning, friend! 

On this 12th morning of Advent, let me tell you a story about an extraordinary day:

It began as a normal day for the Teacher -- Jesus taught. For hours and hours, He taught a large crowd (Mark 4:1-9), a medium-sized crowd (Mark 4:10-33), and His small group of twelve disciples (Mark 4:34). At the end of such a long and exhausting day, it only made sense that His body begged for sleep on the boat taking their company across the Sea of Galilee.

Mark picks up the story:

"On that day, when evening had come, He said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. And other boats were with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' And He awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?' " (Mark 4:35-41, ESV)

Whoa!

What a day!

What if it were today?

Is life pretty rocky for you?

Are you currently in the middle of a storm?

Is there a vast sea of untold hardships stretching before you?

Then, Advent invites you to join the disciples in posing, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

"I Am" is His name -- the only Constant, the solid Rock, the sure Anchor.

I am writing to tell you that the only Constant is very much inside your rocky boat, with you, no matter how fierce or treacherous the storm happens to be. I am here to remind you that even when He appears to lie dormant, the solid Rock is very much awake and attentive to your sighs, moans, and pleas for help. I am in your life to encourage you to believe that regardless of the windstorm you are currently facing, the sure Anchor will stand erect and command,

"Peace! Be still!"

He is the One whose presence brings peace to your chaos, the One whose power causes the gusts of wind to cease their blowing, and the One whose purpose prevails no matter what or how your circumstances are.

So, today, let me gently nudge you. Would you open your eyes? Would you cross your own Sea of Galilee? Would you face your own windstorms -- cancer, financial woes, relational struggles, spiritual drought -- knowing that Christ is in your boat? Would you hail the storm-Smoother and peace-Maker?

Would you surrender to Him and welcome His peace?