Peace, Be Still

He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39, HCSB)

In the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, the character Nettie Fowler sings the words with which Jerry Lewis would later end every one of his Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons from 1964-2010:

When you walk through a storm

Keep your chin up high

And don’t be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm

Is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,

Walk on through the rain,

Tho’ your drams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on,

With hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone.

This song was also made famous due to hit versions recorded by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Andy Williams, and Doris Day. Even Pink Floyd interpolated this song into their own song “Fearless” in 1971 and Barbara Streisand chose this song to end the 2001 Emmy Awards in honor of the victims of the 9-11 attacks.

One thing that the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” does not promise is that we can avoid the storms of life in the first place. Storms are inevitable. Even Christ had to face some storms.

Living in Jordan and west Texas we learned how to prepare for severe hot weather. Living in Florida and Mississippi we learned how to prepare for hurricanes. Living in Maryland we have learned how to prepare for blizzards or Nor’easters. No matter where you live, you must prepare your family for certain known risks, whether it is wildfires, flooding, tornados, earthquakes, or even rare or unknown dangers. Many of the preparations are well known because we were taught about them or we read about them on our own. Being prepared can save your life.

The same rule applies to your spiritual life. Being prepared for the dangers of life is why we are commanded to study God’s Word so that we may be approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and help others to avoid the Devil’s trap. “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, HCSB). Each day you should “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.” (Ephesians 6:11, HCSB).

While the song above was never intended to be used for Christian instruction, there is a deep truth that we can learn from it: if we want to walk through the wind and rain with hope in our hearts, we must not walk alone. We must always strive to keep our eyes on God and allow Him to lead us to the quiet streams and green pastures (Psalm 23) in His own timing.

God also intended for us to weather the storms of life together as fellow believers…as a body...as the church. “Share with the saints in their needs…Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:13a & 15, HCSB). We were not designed to go it alone through the difficulties of life. We have all been taught that there is safety in numbers. “And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12, HCSB).

The next time you find yourself in the midst of a storm, check to see that you have fully prepared for the battle, that your eyes are focused only on God, and that you have the support and safety of God’s family, then look that storm squarely in the eyes and command, “Peace, be still! My God is in control.”