Hush!

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

“Hush, be still.”

What does a storm conjure up in your imagination? Gigantic crashing waves in the sea or massive, violent raindrops against a windshield? Angry dark clouds blockading the sun? Terrifying flashes of electric lightning? Or your thoughts cascading around in your head with the speed of a tornado?

The definition of a storm is:

1. a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. (noun)

2. a tumultuous reaction; an uproar or controversy. (noun)

3. to move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction. (verb)

I know when I get angry I have #2 and #3 covered. With two teenagers in my house this happens more than I like. Some entity, I know is not me, takes over and the storm rages. Reason has no place in a storm, but when the storm is done, reason returns and the choice is to move forward or return to the storm.

In Mark 4, of the Bible, there is a story about how the disciples were in the boat bound for the other side of the sea and Jesus was in the back asleep on a cushion; probably after a hard day of preaching to a large crowd, explaining parables and dealing with questions like, “Now tell me again how the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed?” A storm starts to rage and tosses the little boat around and waves crash over the side while Jesus still sleeps. The disciples are starting to freak out and yell at Jesus to wake up. You would think they would clue in by now, but they start accusing Jesus of not caring whether they live or die.

Jesus gets up and says, “Hush, be still.” Three simple words and the storm is gone.

The disciples were afraid. “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (4:41)

Well, hello?, HE IS GOD!

When the storms rage in you because you get in a fight with your kids, “Hush, be still”

When your boss piles more work on your desk without so much as a “thank you”, “Hush, be still.” When the doctor gives you the news that you were dreading, “Hush, be still.”

Jesus can calm the storm in your soul.

Just about any non-medicated calming technique involves BREATHING.

Breath in, hold it for 10 seconds, breath out and repeat.

Some involve visualization, some listening to music, but they all involve stillness.

When the storms rage in you “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.” (Psalm 46:10), or another translation says, “Cease Striving, and know that I am God.” (NASB) I like that one. Cease striving, breathe and consult the creator of the Universe to calm the storm.

I read a quote that said, “Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear a path.”

Some of the greatest epiphanies come amidst storms in our lives.

Sometimes you are better on the other side of a storm.

Sometimes storms force you to clean up and restructure.

Sometimes storms are a quiet turmoil inside your soul that require an external force to take it away.

Jesus said to the disciples in the boat, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Hush, be still and know that HE IS GOD.