This week’s readings come from Psalm 120 and Mark 4:35-41 and I will be preaching on ‘Peace In Times Of Trouble’.
So often in difficult situations or times of trouble we are encouraged to ‘look for the silver lining’ or else be assured of ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’. However, as children of the Father, our hope is far greater and more secure than any such counsel. Not only can we be sure that Jesus is able to calm the storm and that one day all the storms of life will cease, we can have peace even whilst the storms rage around us. Not only do we know Christ is king – sovereign over all things, even over the wind and the waves, we know he is with us! And not only is he with us, he is for us. As the psalmist says, he is ‘on our side.’
Whilst we have far more than a mere ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ to look forward to in glory, we do not need to wait until the ‘end of the tunnel’ to know the peace of God in times of trouble. As our Lord said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you… Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”