“Rodrigo” (as I like to call him) and I had a lovely cookout the other day! The food was great, and the company was amusing 😉 but what thrilled me the most was the peaceful setting. No thoughts of a “Lockdown” or even a “virus;” No worry or care “called in” to interrupt that peace-filled hour! It was totally calm and still, quiet and serene, so pleasant and peaceful!

But today, a couple bits of news are threatening to rock my boat, viciously! Thankfully, I know to remain at peace, I must “run,” immediately, to My God’s strong tower (Proverbs 18:10)! Don’t stop to text a friend, don’t stop while passing by the refrigerator, and don’t stop to see the news headlines! My purpose in getting to that Tower is there I will bathe my mind with the principles of His governing love, protection, and yes, SOVEREIGNTY! He IS always “Throne-side.” As I continue my quest to praise and pray through uncertain times, I recall to my mind illustrations that assist me in moving toward peace. Mr. De Haan shares the first one:

Two artists set out to make a picture representing perfect peace. The first painted a canvas depicting a carefree lad sitting in a boat on a little placid lake without a ripple to disturb the surface. The other painted a raging waterfall with winds whipping the spray about. On a limb, overhanging the swirling water, a bird had built its nest, and sat peacefully brooding her eggs. Here she was safe from her predatory enemies, shielded and protected by the roaring falls. Real peace is the result of remaining CALM and COOL in the midst of trial.^[1]

M. R. De Haan

---

“In the midst,” smack dab in the whipping, raging sea, we can experience peace. Another interesting phenomenon that I’ve read about depicts – how the Ocean floor remains undisturbed no matter the great turbulence on the surface of the water, whether it’s a storm or typhoon. As I picture the raging waters, I picture the person who is sitting still at the feet of Jesus undisturbed by the turbulent waters.

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:23-27, NASB)

My previous posts progressed from Praise (Sacrificed on the altar: Praise) to Prayer (From Praise to Prayer) which results in Peace, The Third “P.” When we take part in praising our Savior and King, we connect with him through prayer and in turn experience genuine peace even when a storm erupts. Just like that undisturbed ocean floor, we can embody peace while praising and praying. Try it and see for yourself.

Peace with God is the best possible peace. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Before our justified state, there was no peace. Now because of our Lord’s work on the cross on our behalf, his death and resurrection, we can have a relationship with our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. And through the ministry that has been granted to us by the Holy Spirit of God we have peace with God. Now that is sweet peace!

If you have never experienced that kind of peace, trust Him today (John 20:31), and find the peace with God that nothing can disturb.

Regardless of the storms we encounter, we can praise Him, pray to Him, and receive peace from Him.  

Have you experienced the three “P’s” today?

^[1] Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 989–990.