Jesus and His disciples were travelling by boat when a furious storm arose. While the disciples were frightened and overwhelmed by what was happening around them, Jesus was asleep in the stern of the boat.
The disciples woke Him and asked, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” Jesus arose, rebuked the wind and spoke to the sea: “Peace, be still.” Immediately, the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
PEACE IS THE ANTIDOTE TO STORMS
Jesus’ response demonstrates the antidote to the storms of life: peace.
Whether the storm is financial, physical, emotional, relational or connected to any other area of life, peace is necessary to stand against it.
Jesus could speak peace to the storm because peace was already within Him. You cannot give what you do not possess.
The condition within you affects how you respond to what is happening around you. If you are ruled by fear, fear will influence your words and reactions. But when the peace of God governs your heart, you can confront difficult circumstances from a position of strength.
Philippians 4:7 speaks of the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. This was the kind of peace Jesus demonstrated.
While the disciples saw the movement of the boat as evidence that they were about to die, Jesus was able to sleep through the same storm.
The same circumstance can produce completely different responses depending on what is happening inside a person.
When you carry the peace of God, what overwhelms others does not have to overwhelm you.
Jesus said that His peace is different from the peace the world gives. His peace is strong enough to remain even when circumstances are unstable.
John 16:33 reminds us that in this world we will face tribulation, but Jesus tells us to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world.
Our confidence is therefore not based on the absence of trouble. It is based on Christ’s victory.
THE REVELATION OF IDENTITY
The first foundation of Jesus’ peace was the revelation of His identity.
Jesus knew who He was.
He knew that He was the Son of God. His confidence was not determined by what was happening around Him because His identity had already been established.
The same principle applies to every believer.
We cannot allow circumstances, careers, disappointments, setbacks or the opinions of others to define us.
Our identity must come from what God has said about us.
Genesis 1:26 records God saying, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”
This was one of the great deceptions used against Eve in the Garden of Eden. The enemy told her that if she ate the fruit she would become like God, even though humanity had already been created in the image of God.
The enemy was attempting to sell her something that God had already given her.
Many believers experience the same deception today. They look for external achievements, positions, careers, recognition or approval to establish an identity that must first be rooted in God.
You do not need circumstances to tell you who you are when God has already spoken concerning your identity.
You are not simply a victim of circumstances.
KNOWLEDGE OF PURPOSE
The second foundation of Jesus’ peace was His knowledge of His purpose and destiny.
Jesus knew what had been written concerning Him.
He understood that His life would ultimately be laid down on the cross. Therefore, the storm on the Sea of Galilee could not become the place where His life ended.
The time was not right. The place was not right. The method was not right.
His understanding of His destiny gave Him confidence in the middle of the storm.
This shows why believers must understand God's purpose for their lives.
When you have a revelation of where God is taking you, it becomes easier to remain stable when circumstances appear contrary to that destination.
Romans 8 teaches us an important universal purpose for every believer.
Those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Before discussing career, ministry, business or any individual assignment, there is a fundamental destiny that applies to everyone who belongs to Christ: becoming more like Jesus.
God's intention is to restore His image in us.
Understanding this gives stability to our lives.
KEEP MOVING
Difficulties do not automatically mean that you have failed.
You fail when you decide to stop.
If you fall, get back up. If you experience rejection, continue. If something does not work the first time, keep moving.
The enemy wins when he convinces you to stop pursuing what God has called you to do.
The same principle applies spiritually.
Someone may fall into sin and then feel too ashamed to return to fellowship. The enemy tells them, “You are dirty. Stay away.”
But isolation does not restore anyone.
Scripture teaches that as believers walk in the light and fellowship with one another, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from sin.
There is something God does through genuine Christian fellowship that cannot be replaced by simply remaining alone.
You should not run away from God because you need cleansing. You should run towards Him.
THE POWER OF FELLOWSHIP
1 John 1:7 says that if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
There is cleansing connected with fellowship.
This does not remove the importance of repentance. Repentance remains necessary.
But believers must understand that God also designed the fellowship of the Church as a place where people encounter grace, strengthening and restoration.
Do not allow shame to isolate you from the very environment God has provided for your restoration.
CONFIDENCE IN ASSIGNMENT
The third foundation of Jesus’ peace was confidence in His assignment.
Jesus said, “Let us go over to the other side.”
He was travelling with purpose.
He was going somewhere because there was an assignment ahead of Him.
A person who understands that he or she is carrying out God’s assignment has a reason to remain confident during opposition.
This raises an important question:
What is your assignment?
What is your mission?
What are your life goals?
If every goal you have is centred only around yourself, then your understanding of Kingdom purpose is incomplete.
God continually turns our attention outward.
John 3:16 shows what God did for us: He loved the world and gave His Son.
1 John 3:16 then shows what we should do for others: because Christ laid down His life for us, we ought also to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Real love is demonstrated through sacrifice.
KINGDOM PURPOSE MUST GO BEYOND SELF
Whatever you are doing with your life, make sure that God's Kingdom has a place within it.
Your career cannot be the entirety of your purpose.
Your income cannot be the entirety of your purpose.
Your personal advancement cannot be the entirety of your purpose.
Ask yourself what you are contributing as the salt of the earth.
What are you contributing to Manchester?
What are you contributing to your community?
What are you contributing to the Kingdom of God?
There must be something in your life that points beyond personal ambition.
Jesus could confidently say that He had to be about His Father’s business.
When you are committed to the King’s business, you can also trust the King’s protection.
YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST
Colossians 3:3 gives the believer an extraordinary picture of security:
Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Consider the layers of protection contained in that statement.
Your life is hidden in Christ, and Christ is in God.
Before anything can ultimately overcome the believer, it must first overcome Christ.
But Christ is the One who conquered sin, death, the grave and the powers of darkness.
He is the victorious One.
And beyond that, Scripture describes God as a consuming fire.
Our security is therefore not based merely on our own strength.
Our confidence comes from where our lives are positioned: in Christ.
CHRIST HAS DISARMED THE POWERS
Colossians 2:15 declares that Christ disarmed the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them through the cross.
Jesus did not achieve a hidden victory.
His triumph over the powers of darkness was decisive.
The enemy may still attempt to intimidate believers through deception, fear and circumstances, but his intimidation does not reverse Christ's victory.
You must therefore learn to interpret your circumstances through the victory of Jesus rather than interpreting Jesus through your circumstances.
You are not finished because something went wrong.
You are not defeated because you encountered opposition.
You are not abandoned because you are facing a storm.
Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
NO SHAKING
The believer should therefore live with assurance.
You are not ordinary.
You are not merely a victim of circumstances.
God has placed you in this generation, at this moment in time, for a reason and for a purpose.
Your identity is in Christ. Your destiny is in God. Your assignment has Kingdom significance. Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
The storms may come, but you have received the peace of Christ.
The circumstances may shake, but you do not have to be shaken.
Be of good cheer.
Jesus has overcome the world.
And you will fulfil the purpose of God for your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.