Growing up in Florida, I was always fascinated by the ocean during a good thunderstorm. Winds rage, rain blows in all directions, lightning cracks against a darkened horizon, and waves pummel the shoreline. Storm waves, caused by wind transferring energy to water, come quickly and churn the surface, but 100 feet below, the water is calm. Hurricanes create deeper turmoil, but even then, the waters eventually turn calm below the surface. 

‍

This reminds me of Psalm 93:4 –  “But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore — the Lord above is mightier than these!” (NLT)

‍

Raging and violent above the surface, yet calm below. 

‍

This is a picture of what life looks like with Jesus. John 16:33 tells us we will have trouble in this world. This means storms and afflictions will be a part of life. Sometimes they will be raging and violent, but walking through them with Jesus means hope (Heb. 6:19) and peace (John 14:27) can exist during the storm. 

‍

Affliction (something that causes pain or suffering) comes from the brokenness caused by sin entering the world. Peace came when God gave His Son to pay sin’s price on the cross. He fought the battle to give our souls peace, which means peace isn’t just possible. It’s reality. 

‍

That doesn’t mean hard things end. It means that when we place our faith in God, He restores our souls and renews them with His peace – a steady anchor for our souls – in the midst of affliction. Because of this, we are able to praise and glorify God, regardless of our circumstances.

‍

Storms can be raging across the surface of our lives. They can be hitting hard enough to send category 5 hurricane waves crashing into us. But Christ in us means that deep in our innermost being, our soul can be anchored in peace. We can speak His praises and glorify Him in all things because He is mightier than the raging of the seas, and powerful enough to create a boundary for it (Jer. 5:22). If He is mighty enough to tell the roaring ocean how far it can go, He is powerful enough to handle whatever afflictions you’re facing right now. 

Will you do something with me for the next few minutes? If you like to write or draw, grab a pen and paper. Mentally picturing it works, too. Draw (or visualize) a crashing wave. Somewhere on the wave, write down whatever is crashing into your life right now. Then, underneath the wave, write down words, phrases or Bible verses that remind you of God’s promises to you in the midst of the storm. For example, here’s something I wrote underneath my wave:

• 2 Cor. 4:8-9 - hard pressed on every side, but not crushed // struck down, but not destroyed

‍

You can do this however it works for you. Maybe you have several little waves for each thing in your life. Maybe you have one big one. Either way, spend a few minutes naming your storms and searching out verses from the Bible that help you anchor your soul in the truth of God. 

‍

Then, at the bottom of the paper, write a prayer telling God about your storms and asking Him to anchor you in His peace as you face whatever today brings.