Peace in the storm

Lesedauer 3 Minuten

The sun doesn’t shine every day. Every now and then it can be windy, stormy and uncomfortable. The clouds cover the blue sky, it gets dark, cloudy and cold. Severe storms can also be dangerous and cause damage, e.g. B. floods, mudslides, hurricanes, lightning or hail.

In our life, too, we often go through stormy times. We experience difficult times, circumstances and crises that cloud our view. Situations that are uncomfortable and threatening for us. The current situation around Corona is also like a storm that mixes everything up, one wave after another hits us. Many people struggle with uncertainty, doubts, fears, worries or hopelessness.

However, we do not have to become the playball of the waves in our storms of life and be helpless at the mercy of them, there is a way to keep calm and peace in the midst of difficult circumstances. I found this calm in the storm through community, my relationship with God. There is also a story in the Bible about a storm in which Jesus was on a boat with his disciples:

Jesus stills the storm

“When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,“ We ​​want to go to the other side of the lake. Jesus was already in the boat. So the disciples released the crowd, got into the boat with him, and drove off. Several other boats went with them. But soon afterwards a violent storm arose and high waves pounded the boat until it was almost completely full of water. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow. In their desperation they finally woke him up and shouted: “Teacher, don’t you mind that we perish?” Jesus woke up, threatened the wind and commanded the water: “Be silent!” Shut up! ‘Immediately the wind died down and there was a deep silence. And he asked the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? ”Fearful they said to each other:“ Who is this man that even wind and waves obey him? ”

If we take Jesus with us on our ship of life, if he is our captain, if we believe and trust in him, we must not be afraid. Jesus has everything under control and he can work miracles at any time. Wind and waves obey him. We will not go down with Jesus in the boat. We can fix our eyes on him, ask him for help, and let him help us. We can keep our peace because God is with us and leads and guides us through the storms. God is greater than any storm that threatens us. We can find our rest in God, be hopeful and confident. It is our foundation and gives us support. Jesus brings us to the safe shore. He is the anchor in need.

“To know what an anchor is, we need the storm” Quote from Corrie ten Boom

Storms also have their positive sides. They make us aware that we cannot do everything on our own and that we need a savior. When we get weak, God is our strength.

“My grace is all you need. My strength is shown in your weakness ”2 Corinthians 12: 9

The storms also make us grow in faith and in our relationship with God.

When my heart trusts in you and look at your love I find peace, I find peace can I defeat storm and waves In the midst of turbulent times Your presence will always be with me. Even in the greatest uncertainty with you is peace always. My troubled heart becomes still and comes to rest for the God who keeps my peace is you. (Ulrike Nägele)

“Anyone who listens to what I have said and acts accordingly is wise. You can compare him to a man who builds his house on rocky ground. If a downpour comes down, the water rises, and the storm rattles the house, it will still not collapse because it is built on rock. ”Matthew 7: 24-25

“If you are safe from God before the storm, he will also take care of you during the storm” quote from Dèborah Rosenkranz

Persistence

Lesedauer 3 Minuten

What is persistence? Persistence means immutability, durability, reliability, stability and loyalty. Consistency is a strong rock, a secure anchor, a constant, a hold.

Have you ever asked yourself who in this world is actually permanent, what is permanent? Does something like this actually exist?

The world is constantly changing, nothing stays the same. Times change, people change, feelings change etc. and yet people have always longed in their hearts to look for something that always remains.

“He has placed in the heart of man the desire to search about what is eternal.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

When I look back on my life, this search and the questions of meaning began at a young age. When everything changes, everything passes and nothing remains, everything has no sense either. Where do I come from? Where do I go? Why I’m here? Our life has to have a bigger meaning than that we live on earth for a few decades and then it’s all over.

I didn’t know then that my search was basically the search for God. Only he was able to satisfy this longing in me, because only God is eternal and constant.

God’s love doesn’t change

“Because I am quite sure: Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons [7], neither present nor future nor any powers, neither high nor low or anything else in the world can separate us from the love of God, which he in us Jesus Christ our Lord gives. ”Romans 8: 38-39

God’s character does not change

“I, the LORD, do not change” Malachi 3: 6

“I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. My patience is great, my love and loyalty know no end! I let people experience my love over thousands of generations. I forgive guilt, injustice and sin, but I do not leave everything unpunished. ”Exodus 34: 5-7

God’s good qualities do not change

“Praise the Lord, for he is good, and his grace never ceases” 1 Chronicles 16:34

God’s promises don’t change

“God is not a man that he lies, nor a human child that he should repent. Should he say something and not do something? Should he speak and not keep something? ”Numbers 23:19

God’s plans don’t change

“God also made an oath so that the recipients of this promise could be absolutely certain that it was immutable. So God gave us both his promise and his oath, both of which cannot be changed because God does not lie. For us who have sought refuge in him, this is a great encouragement, because we want to achieve the goal that lies before us, the fulfillment of hope, Hebrews 6: 17-18

God’s purposes do not change

“All good gifts and all perfect gifts come down from above, from the Father of light, with whom there is no change, nor change of light and darkness” James 1:17

God’s ways don’t change

“But what the Lord wills is forever, and what he intends is forever established” Psalm 33:11

God’s truth does not change

“Your truth endures for and for” Psalm 119.90

God’s word doesn’t change

“I assure you: not the smallest letter in God’s law – not even a single line of it – will ever lose its validity as long as heaven and earth exist. Everything must be fulfilled. ”Matthew 5:18

“Heaven and earth will pass away; but my words endure forever ”Matthew 24:35

God’s Son does not change

“Jesus Christ yesterday and today and the same forever” Hebrews 13: 8

“But Jesus lives forever, and his priesthood is therefore immortal. That is why he can completely and forever save all who turn to God through him. He lives forever to stand up for them with God. ”Hebrews 7: 24-25

“A long time ago you created everything, heaven and earth are the work of your hands. They will pass, but you will stay. Like old clothes they will fall apart, like a worn out garment you take them off and change them. But you remain one and the same, your years have no end ”Psalm 102: 26-28

God’s constant love is my rock, my anchor, my hold. I can rely on him at all times. He is my rest in a changing time and my security in eternity.

Be thankfull in all things

Lesedauer 4 Minuten

Gratitude changes the perspective on life. Gratitude is a lifestyle that we can practice and train. There is always, in every situation, in every circumstance, in every crisis, at least one reason for which we can be thankful. We can become aware of what we can all be thankful for. Nothing can be taken for granted, everything is a gift.

Gratitude is humble enough to be given something. The proud only takes what is due to him. He refuses to receive a gift. ( Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

The Bible teaches us to be thankful, not only when we experience good things, but also in difficulties and hardships. Such an attitude helps us to better manage crises and to emerge stronger from them. We then no longer circle around the problem with our thoughts, but look for what can result from this situation, for a meaning. So there are different ways to deal with what happens to us. We can whine, complain, be dissatisfied, feel victimized, and sink into self-pity. The other possibility we have is to ask ourselves the following questions:

    What does this situation want to show me?
    What can I learn from it?
    What am I thankful for in these circumstances?
    What gives me hope
    What can be good, what are the opportunities?

I like the story in the Bible of Paul and Silas in prison:

“After being beaten many times, the colonels sent them to prison and ordered the guard to keep them safe. At this command, he locked both of them in the innermost cell and locked their feet in the block.

It was around midnight when Paul and Silas prayed and praised God. The other prisoners listened. Suddenly the earth shook so violently that even the foundations of the prison were shaken. At the same time, all the doors opened and the chains fell off all the prisoners.
The prison guard woke up from sleep. And when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and wanted to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.
But Paul cried out as loudly as he could: “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all still here! ”The guard called for light, plunged into prison, and trembled to the ground before Paul and Silas.
Then he led them out and asked, “Gentlemen, what do I have to do to be saved?” They said: “Believe in Jesus the Lord! Then you will be saved and your whole family with you. “
And they proclaimed the Lord’s message to him and to all who lived in his house. The prison guard took Paul and Silas the same night and washed their bloody streaks. Then he was baptized with everyone who lived in his house. Then he led the two up to his house and had the table set for them. He and everyone who belonged to him were overjoyed that they had found faith in God. “Acts 16: 23-40

Paul and Silas were in dark prison and they had every reason to be desperate, to complain and to lose hope. Instead, they praised and thanked God and sang songs to him. They didn’t look at their circumstances, but at God. They probably thanked God for what he had done in their lives and remembered his promises. Thanks to their gratitude and praise, their hearts were close to God and therefore they had peace and confidence. God himself was the reason for their joy. They were strongly connected to God, had trust. Her belief was so great that a strong earthquake even released the bonds from her feet. Faith thus changed not only their attitude but also the circumstances. They were released. And what I think is the best thing about the story is that Paul and Silas not only helped themselves through their attitudes, but also touched the prison guard. He experienced salvation through the testimony of the two and came to believe in Jesus.

In difficult times, I am especially grateful that I have Jesus at my side, that I don’t have to confront the situations on my own. Being a child of God and being allowed to live in relationship with him is the greatest gift of my life. It gives me support and comfort and the courage to go on. His love carries me and never leaves me alone. It gives hope in every situation.
When I look back, I’m grateful for the difficult times. Because exactly in these times God was very close to me and the relationship with him has grown.
So I no longer see the crisis as a threat, no, it’s an opportunity. The chance to take God’s loving hand and go on with him …

Always be happy, pray without ceasing, be thankful in all things; for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1. Thessalonians 5, 16-18
“Do not worry about anything, but in all things let your requests in prayer and supplication be expressed with thanksgiving to God! And the peace of God, which is higher than all reason, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4, 6-7
“Be persistent in prayer and watch with thanksgiving! Colossians 4.2
I thank the Lord with all my heart
and tell all your miracles” Psalm 9.2


Gratitude seeks the giver over the gift. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Gratitude-Psalter (self-written)

I thank you my Lord and my God, you are the creator of heaven and earth, through you I may live. You gave me life and I can be your child to live with you. I thank you my Lord and my God, your love envelops me, your light surrounds me, your power protects me and your presence watches over me. You created me for relationships in your image, you set me aside valuable people. I thank you my Lord and my God, you are the giver of all good gifts. You gave me talents to use them for you and my fellow human beings. You are generous and rich. You are my provider at all times, your care never stops. You are gracious and mighty Lord, an unshakable rock forever. I thank you my Lord and my God for your word, which is truth and shows me the way to life and fills my heart with joy. You are faithful to God and the hope of the world. I thank you my Lord and my God, through Jesus Christ you have given me new life that will not go away forever and will overcome death. Jesus lives in me and the Holy Spirit helps me. I thank you my lord and my god, you paid for my debt, through you I am free. In my deepest need you were with me and freed me from fear and worry. In challenges and difficulties you are there and let everything work for the good. I thank you my Lord and my God who saves, redeems and liberates. Blessed is he whose roots are in the Lord, the Eternal God, for he is safe with you. Hallelujah, I will always praise the Lord!