Nestled in His Arms
The only place to find peace in the midst of a storm is in the Maker of the storm.
Long ago, a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.
The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.
As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.
A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.
Have you ever noticed the calming effect of nature? There’s nothing like taking a walk through a field, admiring the beauty of flowers, or sitting under the canopy of a large tree. God’s creation has a peaceful aura to it.
Sadly, sometimes nature’s peace can be disrupted by outside factors. But one place that is always peaceful is in the arms of God. No matter what storm or trial is going on, God always provides peace and rest.
When trials or storms come into your life, where do you run? Do you seek refuge from a friend, a certain place, or somewhere else? The disciples discovered that the only person who could calm the seas and give them peace was the Maker of the storm—God.
Source: Daily in the Word, October 27, 2008