The Power of His Presenceنموونە

The Wellspring of Our Calm

A.W. Tozer stated, “The knowledge that we are never alone calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our souls.”

Remembering that He is with us allows us to remain peaceful, even when everything around us is chaotic.

They set out to cross the lake. It was Jesus who suggested it, so the disciples got in a boat and were on their way. Not long after, a squall came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in great danger. If that wasn’t bad enough, Jesus had fallen asleep.

Rushing to Jesus and waking Him up, the disciples exclaimed, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and raging waters, and the storm subsided. All was calm. He asked them, “Where is your faith?”

There’s a few reasons why He could have asked them that question. Perhaps because He was the One who initiated this boat ride to begin with, would He not get them to the other side?

Perhaps it was because He had proven His power and faithfulness to them already.

But at the very heart of it all, could it be because He was there with them, just as He is present with us in our storms? Was that not enough for them? Is that not enough for us? It seems as though He intended it to be.

In Psalm 46, David declared, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

The original word for “trouble” here is also translated in other Scriptures as “distress, anguish, adversity, affliction”—in other words, anything but peace! What a comfort to know in those times, He is present with us.

Continuing in Psalm 46, David stated that because God is an ever-present help in trouble, he will not fear “even though…..” He listed some substantial “even thoughs.” He made it clear that God’s presence was greater than all the distresses and afflictions around him.

What an incredible way to view the importance and implications of His presence in our lives: whatever we face, we are not alone. We may feel alone. We, like the disciples, may feel like we’re drowning in the afflictions, swamped by the storm. We may fret because of what we see happening around us. Like David, we may feel surrounded by adversity and filled with anguish.

In these times, will you 1) run to Jesus, as did the disciples, affirming His presence is enough through all of life’s storms and 2) acknowledge that “even though” trouble surrounds you, so does He, and that is indeed, enough?

You can proclaim: “God with me: the wellspring of my calm.”