The God-Made Calm

Taken from "Home Words for Heart and Hearth," conducted by Rev. Charles Bullock, B.D., 1900

When storms come it is to God we must look to be "delivered out of our distresses."

Is it Discipline? "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Is it Punishment? "He hath torn and He will heal."

It is Trial? "But the God of all grace, after ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

If with the Psalmist we say, "One deep calleth unto another because of the noise of Thy water-sprouts," don't let the waves of God hide out God. "Why art thou so disquieted within me? O put thy trust in God, for I shall yet thank Him, who is the help of my countenance and my God."

When you cry, "Why art thou so full of heaviness, O my soul, and why art thou so disquieted within me?" then go to God Himself for your peace, and you shall yet give Him thanks for the help of His countenance. "He maketh the storm a calm."

And when the world vexes you, when, it may be, you are robbed of your money, when you are jostled against the wall, or driven from your place upon the footpath into the mud, when your peace is broken, and the winds and the waters rise in your soul, when in the awful loneliness of desertion, or death, your heart becomes like a vault, and you hear a moaning therein as of the wind when it blows around the lone chamber of the coffined dead--then, God give us to remember He is above it all, and He can make the storm a calm.

Blow then the fierce wild winds whence they may, and how strong they may--

If they smite our bodies--"Our strength is made perfect in weakness."

If they smite our minds--"In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul."

If they smite my conscience--"If our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knoweth all things." "Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleaneth us from all sin."

Through Christ, God says to all storms, "Peace, be still." "What manner of man is this that the winds and the waves obey Him?" He is the One to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth. He is "the Prince of Peace." He is the One of whom it is said that "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him." He is the One who was sent "to guide our feet into the way of peace." He is the One who said, "That in Me ye might have peace." He is the One of whom the Apostle said, "He is our Peace." He is the One who said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you."

Away then, in all troubles, "to Thee, O God": for "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee": away to Jesus, whose birth-song the angels sang, and singing, sang of Peace: "Peace on earth." "He maketh the storm a calm"--God-made calm.

"Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.
Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus' bosom nought but calm is found.
Peace, perfect peace, Death shadowing us and ours?
Jesus has vanquished Death and all its powers.
It is enough: earth's troubles soon shall cease,
And Jesus calls us to heaven's perfect peace."

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