In the Midst of the Storm

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”—John 14:27

There are many who haven’t heard of the great man John Wesley. John Wesley, along with his brother Charles, was the founder of Methodism, or what is now the Methodist church (although I can guarantee that the Methodism they espoused is entirely different from the Methodism that exists today). Born in England, he grew up and felt God leading him to go to the colonies to preach to the Indians in Georgia. He boarded a ship bound for the New World. On board was a group of Moravians, which was a sect of Protestant pietists—zealous evangelists who valued the Word of God and personal devotion.

While on the ship, a storm erupted. The main mast split and the crew started to panic, but the Moravians continued to calmly sing throughout the whole ordeal. Wesley couldn’t believe their faith and how calm they were. Seeing the peace they had in the face of such calamity and their concern for their fellow passengers rather than for themselves caused doubt to erupt in his mind. Their faith seemed different than his own. Theirs was much more real, intense, and anchored.

After the storm, the Moravians told him they could behave so bravely because they didn’t fear death—because of their real and intense faith. They knew who God was and that He had them in the palm of their hand. Their faith caused him to challenge his own and eventually led him to true, saving faith. Up to this point in time, his faith was just intellectual knowledge. He didn’t truly know Christ as his own personal Lord and Savior. Eventually he did come to truly know Christ and possess the peace the Moravians had. He went on to become one of the best known evangelists in church history, traveling on horseback through the colonies, preaching two or three times each day. It has been estimated that he rode 250,000 miles on horseback, gave away 30,000 pounds sterling, and preached more than 40,000 sermons!

It’s amazing what happens when we have God’s peace. We can go through anything and not be shaken. We can face death and be calm. Jesus taught about a real abiding peace that enables us to go through anything and everything. Or as Paul wrote, it is a peace that “surpasses all understanding”—Philippians 4:7. How do we get this peace? By placing our complete faith and trust in Him who died for us. When we believe in His Son, God gives us His peace. We have rest—from the world, from sin, self, and striving. We have an abiding peace that enables us to be calm in the midst of the storm.

Do you have God’s peace? Have you placed your faith in Him? Perhaps you are a bit like Wesley in that your peace is intellectual and not personal? If so, ask God to reveal Himself to you and when He does, place your faith in Him and be ready to receive a peace that this world finds unbelievable. Amen.