A few nights ago, “The Diary of a Mad Black Woman” came on TV. As I sat there all wrapped up in the suspense and drama of the movie, there seemed to be many parts that I connected with at some point in my life experience.
When Cicely Tyson spoke the words “Peace! Be still” (Matthew 8:23-27) then Madea said “Yes, peace be still. I keeps a piece of steel on me at all times”, I simply had to laugh.
While the message was funny, it was very clear. This was not the first time that I had heard the words, but it was the first time I heard it said with such humor.
How Important is Peace to You?
When you do not have peace of mind, are you able to go about your day without issue?
One of the greatest stories in the Bible is in Matthew 8:23-27, when Jesus calms the storm. This is a prime example of Jesus’ authority over everything that lives and breathes. Many times, we lose our peace because we do not have faith that God hears our cries and will answer them. When we allow our peace to be broken, we are saying “God, I do not trust that you can resolve this issue, remove this disease, eradicate this pain, bless me with a job, etc.” and that is where we lose our peacefulness.
Give Jesus Control of Your Peace
Think about why Jesus calmed the storm – He did this to encourage us to have faith in Him. When the disciples were afraid, Jesus rebutted their weakened faith by saying, “O you of little faith, why are you afraid?” (Matthew 8:26). Their request for Jesus’ help, their fear showed that their faith was weakened. They displayed fear and panic when they came to Him – they were not at peace and the raging storm on the sea scared them. The disciples felt they were going to die regardless of Jesus’ presence alongside them.
When Jesus calmed the storm, He showed the power and the strength behind His words. When we find that we are going through a hardship, something beyond our control we must remember that Jesus has the final say so.
So, I ask you, why allow an issue, person, or thing to affect your peace when we already know what Jesus can do?
We must remember that as long as we carry Jesus in our heart, we will have peace. When we have faith, it builds our confidence in Christ. And, when our faith is expressed in our prayers, He hears each and every one of our pleas and keeps us from harm.
To obtain and maintain peace, we must have faith and pray to Jesus Christ knowing that our prayers will be answered. Say it, “Peace! Be still.” (Matthew 8:23-27)
So, what is the play call?
- We must receive the power of the Lord, according to the Word of God, and apply His power to the experiences we encounter in our lives (Zechariah 4:6). If we do this, the greater our confidence and peace will be.
- We must understand that we will struggle with tribulation in this life, but be of good cheer and never take your eyes off of Jesus (John 16:33).
- We must work towards building an unyielding, virtuous faith. Understand that it is indeed a process, and we have to be patient and continue to nurture our faith in God (2 Peter 1:5).
- We must understand that there will be times when we have fears and our faith weakens. It is important to always remember to cry out to the Lord in prayer (Psalm 18:6) – have faith and KNOW that He will bring you through.
- Finally, the next time you observe that your peace is shifting to frustration, demand that your Peace return to its rightful place within you in Jesus’ name.
The best version of Christians are faithful, peaceful, loved, and highly-favored followers of God. As long as you follow His words, your peace will remain. Dry your tears, take back your strength, release your fears and say it, “Peace! Be still.” (Matthew 8:23-27).
