This morning was like most mornings…I awake in the wee hours and stumble downstairs to hit brew on the coffeemaker whilst I take care of letting the dog out. 

Then I stretch and wait and continue the conversation with my Lord that began as I was awakening to the day. Usually in those first moments I notice a worship song streaming through my heart and mind. This morning was no different. “He Reigns! Glory in the highest! He reigns! Let the nations testify ~ He reigns…”  

Yes, indeed You do Lord ~ above all storms of this life, amid all storms of this life, after all the storms of this life!!! Hallelujah, YOU reign! 

As I am continuing to hum this tune, I pour my cup of delicious warmth and take my seat in His presence in my prayer closet…oh how I love this place of shelter underneath His wings…in His shadow. I sit…and listen…and breathe it in. The night has been fitful, but there is peace now, here. Palatable peace…I am humbled by His love and presence. 

 Opening His Word I am struck deeply by Matthew 8…where Jesus leads the disciples into a boat; they follow…He falls asleep. In perfect peace. They are wide awake when the storm suddenly rages from out of nowhere. They rightly are terrified…on their own they have nothing but physical strength. 

BUT they are NOT ALONE!!! He is right there in the front of the bow sleeping on a pillow…peacefully. Amid the storm. In the same BOAT as they are; He rests. Then out of terror – they wake him! WE ARE GONNA DIE!!!! How can you just sleep?! He wakes, rebukes the storm. It instantly obeys and is still. What must have seemed like a whisper in the storm, held the power of a mighty roar of “peace!!!” from the KING of Kings, and with this one word He calmed the raging seas! 

The Prince of Peace was standing in the storm with them, and the storm stilled at His word! Where were they looking when they were so terrified? They were looking at the storm ~ and thus struck with terror. For when they looked at and for JESUS – the storm stilled. Had they forgotten it was He that lead them into the boat, to cross over the sea. They had followed…He was leading them to the next level of faith…this path just so happened to be through a storm…a storm HE would choose to still and by doing so reveal another layer of WHO HE IS! He is peace personified! 

As I sit there …I too am in the midst of a “storm” of sorts…I know that HE has led me here, He will bring me exactly to where He has planned.  I have been getting fearful as the waves grow higher and more numerous…my issue revealed clearly - I have been looking at the raging sea...not at my King, and Prince of Peace.  

I refocus with His whisper to my soul. He lifts my heart and mind so as to re-fix my gaze upon Himself, the AUTHOR of my life! Yeshua my Messiah! His Peace slows the cadence of my heart…and relaxes the knots in my stomach. I sense in my spirit His very “real” arms around me, as He whispers, “Hush, peace, be still My daughter…I AM right here with you. I brought you this far…I will surely safely bring you to My next port for you. This moment is for you to see Me more clearly, and to trust Me more deeply. Listen for My Words of Truth that bring peace and quiet confidence! You will never be disappointed or lost when you are in My boat!”