Listen on:
Sometimes God calms the storm.
He excises the malignant cancer, transfers the cranky boss, replenishes the diminishing funds. The breath of heaven blows, the clouds scatter, and the winter sky becomes a springtime blue.
Sometimes he calms the storm. Other times, however, he chooses to calm the child.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Rather than quiet the tempest, he stills the sailor. Rather than remove the disease, he removes the fear. Rather than lift the debt, he lifts the doubt. The storm still brews, the wind still blows, but the child no longer frets; he trusts. He may even snooze.
Matthew 6:27 ESV
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Anxiety happens when we think the world is spinning out of control. The untruth deceives us into believing that the problem has no solution. The consequential false narrative says, “My life is nothing but a maelstrom of messes.” An overreaction chimes in with a Chicken Little squawk of, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”
Be on the alert for this downward spiral. Disarm these thoughts the moment they begin to grouse. Rather than heed them, heed him. Anxiety is calmed when we talk to the one in charge.
No storm ever hit harder than the one that raged through Gethsemane’s garden. And no prayer was ever prayed with more passion than the one Jesus prayed on the eve of his death. “Can you calm the storm?” Jesus asked. God did for Moses. God did for Daniel. God would do so for Paul and Silas. Could he not do the same for his own Son?
Of course he could. But he chose not to. The cross was part of God’s plan to redeem his children. God did not calm the storm. But our Father calmed his Son. And Jesus marched to Calvary in peace. A heaven-sent, illogical, stare-death-in-the-face-with-a-smile peace.
Philippians 4:4-8 ESV
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
I pray God calms your storm. If he does not, may he calm you. And may you find the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ESV).
Prayer
Dear God, You have promised perfect peace to those who focus on you. When I battle anxiety, help me keep my thoughts on you. Help me uproot the weed of anxiety and replant with your joy.
Hale Ministries
Andi and Brian Hale have a long history of ministry service, including 20+ years for each of them as AWANA Leaders and Teachers. Andi directed the Zion Evangelical Church Choir for 10 years and is now on the Praise Team for the largest church in Texoma (North Texas and Southern Oklahoma). She has had the opportunity to sing and pray with Avalon and Casting Crowns and landed the lead role in GREASE (50+ version) as Sandy at Wichita Falls Backdoor Theater. Brian has a long history in the media, including Radio, TV, Newspaper, PA Announcer, Social Media and On-Stage in front of thousands. As website designers of more than 25 years, they are always eager to help answer any questions you might have.
Together, Brian and Andi are out to prove that you can still have fun in your 50’s in this crazy, upside down world we live in today, as long as we keep our focus on Him, the One who created us for a purpose!
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