Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:05] Speaker A: Hey, everybody, Pastor Chuck here on this Friday to talk about Advent week two. And we've been talking all week long about peace.
Today I'd love for us to talk about peace in the middle of life stuff, because peace is not what happens when life finally slows down and everything lines up just right.
Peace is what Jesus does in the middle of the stuff or the storm, y'. All. In this Advent Week two, we, we, we've been focusing on not fake peace, not everything's fine peace, but real peace right in the thick of life's stuff.
So there's this storm story in Mark, chapter four. And Jesus and his disciples get into a boat after a long day of teaching.
And Jesus is exhausted, so he falls asleep in the boat, head on a cushion. Then it happens. Fierce storm. Not a drizzle, not a light rain. A life threatening, oh my stars, we might not make it out of the storm.
Waves are breaking over, the boat is filling up with water. These experienced fishermen, they are terrified.
So they shake Jesus awake and they literally say, teacher, don't you care what we're going through, that we're going to drown?
And that question has echoed through every anxious heart since, including mine and yours. Jesus, don't you care that my marriage is struggling? Jesus, don't you care about this diagnosis? Jesus, don't you care I'm tired and lonely and stressed and scared or whatever it is.
Well, Jesus wakes up, stands up in the rocking boat and he speaks to all of chaos. I mean, he speaks to all of creation.
And he says, silence, be still.
And suddenly the wind stops, the water smooths out, the storm loses its voice. And then Jesus turns to his friends and he says, why are you afraid?
Do you still have no faith?
And they're terrified in a different way now. They look at each other and ask, who is this guy? Even the wind and waves obey him.
Because peace, friend, can be found in the middle of life stuff. Here's what's wild. The storm didn't keep Jesus from, from being at peace. The storm didn't keep Jesus from being present. He was in the same boat, experiencing the same wind, same waves, but a completely different center. And that's the invitation of Advent week two. Not a life with no storms, but a savior who's not panicked by yours.
Peace is not the absence of storms. Peace is the presence of Jesus and the boat with you. Your stuff might be a storm of bills and deadlines. Maybe it's a storm of grief, a storm of conflict in your home, a storm in your mind that never Seems to turn off.
Advent doesn't deny any of that, y'. All. Advent steps into it and whispers, jesus is here in this with us.
Here's three super practical ways to discover some peace in your storm today. Number one, Name the storm out loud. The disciples didn't pretend it was nice, beautiful on the lake. I mean, they said we're going to drown.
Be that honest. Be that honest with Jesus. Say, Jesus, this is my storm. This is what scares me. This is where I feel like I'm sinking. Peace starts when pretending ends. Number two, remember who's on the boat with you. I mean, the wind and the waves were real. So is the one asleep on the cushion. Take a moment today, maybe in your car, on a walk with your dog, on the treadmill. Wherever you're at, Jesus, you're in this with me. And you're not nervous about what scares me.
Let that sink in. Say it out loud. The one who commands storms is not wringing his hands over your situation.
3. Practice a simple be still breath. When anxiety spikes, do this. Inhale slowly and as you do, pray, Jesus, you are here. Exhale slowly and pray silence. Be still.
Repeat that a few times. They're not magic words, just a way of aligning your body and your mind with the reality that Jesus still speaks. Be still over your storms.
I think we can experience Advent peace right now.
Because Advent is about waiting. But not empty waiting. It's waiting with awareness, waiting with hope. Waiting with the deep conviction that the same Jesus who calmed the sea is still speaking peace into storms today.
So as you move through your day with all its stuff, remember this. You're not called to be the one who controls the wind and waves.
You're invited to trust the one who does.
Let this be your prayer, Jesus. You see the storms I'm in right now, the ones on the outside and the ones on the inside. Thank you that you're in my boat even when I feel like I'm going under.
Speak peace. Be still over my mind, Lord. Over my relationships and over my fears. Teach me to trust you more than I trust the size of this storm. And Lord, let your Advent peace rise in me today, right in the middle of my real life. In the name of Jesus. Amen, friend. He cannot wait to bring peace to you. It's the greatest gift and I'm so grateful he offers it to everyone. God bless you. It's been a joy to speak with you this week about peace and Advent. Next week will be in Advent Week three. We'll be on a whole, nother topic, but the whole concept of waiting is still there. Christmas is coming. How awesome is that? God bless you. Have a great day. Bye now.
