Calm

Being a guy who has battled depression and anxiety for most of my life, the word “calm” is a precious word to me. Doing a quick self-check, are you calm? If I am guessing, currently most of us are stressed with many of us overstretched to the max.  Our schedules are crazy dictating a lifestyle that is frenzied. There is constant noise surrounding us. The TV’s in our home seem to be “on” the majority of time and loud arguments are way too frequent.  No one talks quietly or gently. Cell phones seem be ringing all day and evening long.  You cannot hide out in your car anymore…business as usual. Calmness is a pipe dream in our world of churn.  Even our vacations are emotionally taxing with little rest to be had. We seem to be constantly in a storm. 

In the spiritual world, “calmness” is a powerful state of mind.  Isaiah 26:3 declares, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Why is trusting the Lord so healing and calming?  Verse 4 tells us, “For the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”  Hebrews 13:5 states that “Jesus Christ will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Verse 8 exclaims that “He is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  James 1:17b says it this way, “With God there is no variation or shadow due to change.”  The foundation of calm in our world is our rock solid God and His Word.

Colossians 3:16 speaks clearly, “And let the peace of Christ (calmness) rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful”.  The word “rule” in this passage is the same word “umpire” derives from.  In other words, whether we are “safe or out” depends on how peaceful or calm we are.  Another key word in this passage is “thankful”.  A thankful heart is foundational to calmness.

Mark 4:35-41 describes a real-life experience that illustrates to each of us how to manage our storms in life,“³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ 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?” ³⁹ 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. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹ 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?” If you invite God into your storms, His Word will become “a great calm” bringing “Peace” and “still(ness)”.

John 14:27 and 16:33 are two quotes from Jesus that calm the storms of life:

• “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
• ^“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Be still (calm…at peace) and know that He is the God of your life and lifestyle.