“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.†Ephesians 6:14-15
A few weeks ago, as I was driving to the last MOPS meeting of the year, a simple rain shower evolved into a roaring thunderstorm. I am convinced that whoever coined the phrase “it’s raining buckets,†first uttered those words during a similar storm. It looked and felt as if someone was standing ten feet above me dumping ten gallon buckets of water on top of my mid-sized sedan. The highway flooded, thunder cracked, lightning bolted, and tree branches buckled under the wind’s fearsome stream.
My chest tightened and the warning signs that a panic attack was veering in were plentiful. Safely pulling off the road was not an option, so I turned up the worship music and began to praise God for being the one and only God; a God so powerful, so loving, so righteous and so in control. As I praised the maker of that storm, a powerful calm surrounded me. The truculent storm stayed its course. But I, the driver, changed mine.
Instead of succumbing to fright like I usually do, I accepted the peace that surpasses all understanding. My senses, of course, remained heightened and I wouldn’t compare the peace I felt to the peace of relaxing on a balmy beach. But still, as my heart calmed, the better prepared I was to drive along that chancy road. I knew that God was in complete control of that situation and regardless the outcome, good would prevail.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world give. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.†John 14:27.
Isn’t it beautiful how peace is ours for the taking? We don’t have to pray, “God, give me peace.†Christ already gave it to us. All we need to do is believe in it, embrace it, plant our feet in it, and walk with confidence knowing that Christ is with us always, even in the storms.
thank you for the wonderful reminder this morning. it is NO accident i stumbled across your blog!
in HIS grip,
lisa
Amen, sister!
Wowzer, what a filling breakfast for me this morning. Love the idea of the storm staying its course but you changing yours. Insightful dig out of the analogy and one I will long remember. Thank you for listening to the Lord.
Although I shouldn’t say this, because I do enjoy ALL of the Faith LIfts writers, Angela…you have a way of speaking right to my spirit! What a way with words! Wonderful story and use of Scripture. Thank you!
God bless-
Amanda
Angela,
This struck a chord with me! A guest speaker at our church just did a talk about the peace of God this weekend, and I’ve been thinking about writing a devotional on peace too. Thank you for the additional and AWESOME reminder of how powerful the peace that comes from God can be!
God delivered me too from the grip of panic attacks. I still lean on Him to this day. Jesus is our peace. Praise Him! Great words here, Angela. Thank you.
What a great reminder that God is always in control. Thank you!
I’m picturing Jesus sitting in your back seat, like He was sleeping in the boat with the disciples.
He IS always with us, and I love this story of how He calmed your heart.