CHARACTER QUALITY # 45 Calm

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

There’s a little book with the title Keep Calm and Carry On (Andrews McMeel Publishing). The title is based on a poster produced by the British government in 1939, during the dark days of World War II. More than two million copies were printed to be used in the event that Germany invaded the island nation as an encouragement to keep that famous British stiff upper lip in place if the worst-case scenario came to fruition.

During the Babylonian Exile God promised the return of people to Israel.  Many descriptions of that rescue were described – the following Psalm is one of those:

Psalm 107:23-30

Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters.  They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep.  For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.  They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away.  They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Where are you in the midst of the storm?  Are you calm?  Better question – Where is Jesus in the midst of your storm?  Does it seem he is sleeping and not helping?  Take note: if he is resting a moment, it is because the storm does not scare him.  Why? He has the power to stop the storm if it gets too bad.  Get his attention – and watch what happens.

Matt 8:23-27

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"  He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Keep Calm and Carry On

          Can you describe a time when you were in Exile, in a storm, in a difficult situation, in a circumstance that others would not have been calm, but you experienced calm because you knew Jesus was seeing you through it?

From the Heart,

Pastor Jeff Cooper