Calm in the Storm
I’m enjoying the rains we have had this week. Two nights in a row we had pretty ferocious storms. I felt a little anxious during one of them, just as I have felt anxious many times in those times of life we describe as storms. That’s when we need to remember words like this chorus from Vernon J. Charlesworth’s “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.”
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land –
A Shelter in the time of storm.
Psalm 107 describes God delivering people from various kinds of troubles. This section is about His saving people in a storm at sea.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad because they were quiet,
So He guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders to the sons of men!
Psalm 107:28-31
I love how Jesus revealed His divinity by doing the exact kinds of things His Father had been doing since creation. After Jesus calmed a storm:
The men were amazed, and said,
“What kind of a man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Matthew 8:27
I recently read this quote from Augustine: “I found in my studies of Plato and Cicero many fine things acutely said, but in none of them did I find, ‘Come unto me and rest.'”
I also recently watched a news story about a “school” in a politically-repressive country. Its purpose is to transform adults’ thoughts to make them fit with the thoughts the regime requires.
Any honest educator will admit that transforming thoughts is a main purpose of education. No education is neutral, no matter who says otherwise. Praise God that you are transforming your children’s thoughts by leading them to Jesus.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Only in Jesus will our children’s hearts and minds be able to rest in the One Who promises them rest — in whatever storm they will ever face.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28