“Peace in the midst of the storm” is a message the Lord has repeatedly brought to my attention since early Saturday morning, and since I’m not aware of a need in my life for that particular message, I feel it must be an important message for someone else. So I started thinking more about it from that perspective and asked myself exactly what peace in the midst of the storm is. And the only possible answer is faith; faith that no matter what is going on in our lives, our Lord and Savior is there with us and that we have no reason to fear or fret, because He WILL defend, protect and provide for us; that we know His plans for us are for our welfare and NOT for evil and to prosper us, and that He WILL cause EVERYTHING in our lives, even the storms of life, to work together for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose.

First, I want to share the amazing way the Lord has been bringing the message “peace in the midst of the storm” to my attention, because it’s something unlike I’ve ever experienced before, which is why I know it must be very important for someone in particular. My husband had sent me an email message Friday night that he was having a garage sale the next day, and I don’t know about the rest of you, but one thing I know for sure is that I’d MUCH rather GO to a garage sale than have one! So when I got up early the next morning, it wasn’t too surprising that God put it on my heart to send my husband a quick note in which I prayed for Him to be blessed with “a calm and fruitful day”. But soon after sending that message, the thought “peace in the midst of the storm” was VERY strong in my spirit and I couldn’t shake it or figure out what it meant, which is pretty unusual. So after it wouldn’t go away, I just sent my husband another short message saying that was very strong in my spirit, thinking he might need it during the day. Then I just let it go. And the next day I was talking to one of the FAM Fellowship members when that exact same phrase came up, so I told her about how the Lord had put that in my mind the day before and said it must have been for her. Then the NEXT day, Monday, another one of the members called late that night to share what a wonderful work the Lord was doing in her heart and life, and she used the exact same phrase! I couldn’t believe it; no one was saying “peace in a storm” or even “peace in the middle of the storm”…it was always “peace in the midst of the storm”…not even “…in the midst of a storm”, or “…the midst of my storm”! So this was getting even more interesting and it definitely captured my attention and sparked my curiosity! So I told that member about what had happened Saturday morning and said maybe it was for her too! Then I just about fell out of my chair yesterday morning when I read how in response to one of our member’s request for prayer, another member responded by using the EXACT same phrase, and asked the Lord to bring her “peace in the midst of the storm”! So I thought I must have told her about the Lord giving me that word Saturday morning, even though I didn’t remember it! But when I talked to her later in the day I asked her and she said we hadn’t talked about it! That’s when it FINALLY dawned on me that this must be an important message for someone and that the Lord must want me to write about experiencing “peace in the midst of the storm”, and resisting and overcoming the attacks of the devil and the world’s opposition as we stand in faith and obedience for the restoration of our marriages and families.

In addition to the obvious incredible thrill and excitement of seeing a marriage and family restored, the most rewarding experience for me personally as I minister to the ladies the Lord brings to FAM Ministries is witnessing the transformation in their hearts and lives when they learn to rely on the word of God as they walk through this storm; because I know what they learn now will carry them through EVERY storm that comes their way in the future! And that’s because, just like me, for the first time in their lives they have REALLY made Jesus Christ and obedience to His word the foundation of their lives, which is total confirmation of what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-29, where He told us:
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
And that’s confirmed in Philippians 4:9, which says Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. It just doesn’t get any clearer than that! The way we withstand the storms of life, including everything coming against our marriages and families right now, is to PRACTICE the words of Christ as we find them in our Bibles; that’s when we have “peace in the midst of the storm”. And the reason we DON’T experience peace in the midst of our storms is because we’re NOT practicing what the Lord tells us to do in His word. So HEARING the word WITHOUT PRACTICING the word does NO good, because we’re just deceived into thinking we know something we obviously don’t. Because when we KNOW what we hear, we’d DO what we hear, and as harsh as it sounds, that’s confirmed in 1 John 2:4-6, which says The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. And when Satan tries to tell us that is not possible, we need to TELL HIM what Jesus told us in John 15:5, which says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. And then tell him what Philippians 4:13 says , which is I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.And there’s absolutely NO situation we face that we can’t find the wisdom to deal with in the Bible, so if we look for our answers there and practice what we learn, we WILL always have “peace in the midst of the storm”!

And an interesting and amusing observation I’ve made while seeing women transformed as they learn to rely on the Lord and the wisdom and power of His word, is how amazed they ALL are when they first start experiencing the peace that inevitably comes with doing that! I can’t tell you how many women have asked me if something is wrong! They’re actually afraid the peace they’re experiencing means they’re no longer interested in the restoration of their marriages or that they don’t love their husbands anymore! I just tell them to praise the Lord for that protective shield He’s placed around their hearts, that it’s like Holy anesthesia, but that when the time is right and it’s necessary, all of the love they have for their husbands will come flooding back at a moment’s notice! It’s just like the Lord puts a protective shell around our hearts to protect us from all of the pain and disappointment we experienced before we learned to put all of our faith, confidence and trust in Him and His word. And NOTHING but the love, power and grace of our Lord and Savior could do that!

The following passages of scripture are just a few that help us find that awesome place of “peace in the midst of the storm” when we truly understand and believe them and learn to rely on them as we walk in faith and obedience by submitting to the word and will of God as expressed in the world’s GREATEST love letter, the Bible!

Isaiah 41:10-13 (NKJV)
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “ Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them—Those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (AMP)
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Romans 8:28-35 (NKJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 37, particularly verses 4-8
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Psalm 119:114
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.

Proverbs 16:1
To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.

Isaiah 55, particularly verses 8-11
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

And the following passages of scripture are especially encouraging as we stand for the restoration of our marriages:

Hosea 2 (NLT)

Luke 15

Malachi 2:10-17 (AMP)

Dear Lord, You know better than anyone else that the storm we find ourselves in as we stand against the gates of hell and the ways of the world for the restoration of our marriages is probably one of the most difficult we’ll ever endure, so we give you all praise, honor and glory, and thank you for your promise that you will never leave us or forsake us and that you’ll walk through this storm with us. So, in the name of Jesus, I ask for everyone reading this to receive the grace and understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit that’s necessary to supernaturally experience “peace in the midst of the storm”. Therefore, I send forth the power of the Holy Spirit to open our ears and eyes and our hearts and minds as you pour your heart out to us and make your thoughts known to us. Be Thou glorified in all that we say and do, and let us live our lives so that others will see your love and goodness in us. In Jesus’ name we pray and give thanks. Amen.

Posted Wednesday, December 6th, 2006 at 4:23 pm in Seeds Of Faith.