Raging Peace

Have you ever equated water with peace? Why is it that when we think of peace we often imagine ourselves relaxed on the beach listening to the ocean waves gently washing up on shore?

As I thought about this more, it actually made NO SENSE to me! The ocean—a raging and unstoppable force—filled with some of earth’s deadliest creatures… That totally gives me peace! (Insert sarcastic emoji).

How can we equate such a raging and unstoppable force with peace? It reminds me of John 16:33,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I never fully grasped the first part of this scripture. Jesus had just finished telling the disciples all these crazy things that would happen in this world! He also told them that he would be taken from them and even prophesied his death to them!

After telling them of all these horrible things that are to come, he tells them this, “I have told you these things so that you may have PEACE.”

HOW!?!

It’s almost as if this raging, unstoppable force we call the ocean is like the circumstances in life that we go through. It’s almost as if this overtaking force we call the ocean is like the circumstances Jesus said are to come.

I used to equate water with peace and I used to think that a nice relaxing day at the beach would somehow calm my soul.

Now I know, it’s not the water that brings peace. It’s not the circumstance that brings peace. (Good or bad.)

It’s just JESUS.