June 12, 2011
What happens in the eye of a storm? I haven’t ever been in the eye but have been told that there is peace in it, an unexplained calmness. As I think about a storm I see struggles all around it. Things are tossed to and fro. These represent to me our times of trials. As we watch on the news about storms, what do we see? We see that a storm can do the impossible. It can take a pine needle and stick it through a plank of wood. In 1974 a tornado hit the town of Warren AR. I went down to help some people move and was able to go into the destroyed areas. I saw a house that was torn completely down except for a kitchen counter. Sitting on the kitchen counter was a cup of coffee with the coffee still in it. What does this mean? To me it means that there are signs of peace in a storm. We must seek to find those moments of peace as the storm is taking place in our lives. We allow our mind to be so caught up in what is being torn up around us and we forget that God is still there. As we look again at the storm we see that it can pick things up and tear them apart. You see satan wants to pick us up and tear us apart. He comes to still kill and destroy us. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” When we are consumed with what is happening around us we forget the cup of coffee. We must remember that whatever our circumstances are that peace is still there and we must focus on that peace which is God. It has been told that when a storm is large that the eye is so peaceful you might think the storm has passed, but beware because it can quickly strike again.
In the June 18th reading of My Utmost for His Highest it reads;
Keep Recognizing Jesus
. . . Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid . . . —Matthew 14:29-30
The wind really was boisterous and the waves really were high, but Peter didn’t see them at first. He didn’t consider them at all; he simply recognized his Lord, stepped out in recognition of Him, and “walked on the water.” Then he began to take those things around him into account, and instantly, down he went. Why couldn’t our Lord have enabled him to walk at the bottom of the waves, as well as on top of them? He could have, yet neither could be done without Peter’s continuing recognition of the Lord Jesus.
We step right out with recognition of God in some things, then self-consideration enters our lives and down we go. If you are truly recognizing your Lord, you have no business being concerned about how and where He engineers your circumstances. The things surrounding you are real, but when you look at them you are immediately overwhelmed, and even unable to recognize Jesus. Then comes His rebuke, “. . . why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Let your actual circumstances be what they may, but keep recognizing Jesus, maintaining complete reliance upon Him.
If you debate for even one second when God has spoken, it is all over for you. Never start to say, “Well, I wonder if He really did speak to me?” Be reckless immediately— totally unrestrained and willing to risk everything— by casting your all upon Him. You do not know when His voice will come to you, but whenever the realization of God comes, even in the faintest way imaginable, be determined to recklessly abandon yourself, surrendering everything to Him. It is only through abandonment of yourself and your circumstances that you will recognize Him. You will only recognize His voice more clearly through recklessness— being willing to risk your all.
Look for the peace of God in every situation. Seek to find Him. He is there with outstretched hands ready to take away any fear you may have. Allow the Lord to consume your life. Ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit by asking Him to teach you His ways. Put your trust in Him and Him only. He created you and everything around you. Open your eyes to see Peace in the eye of the storm which is God.
