Finding Peace in the Midst of Storms

Once, God calmed the storm for Moses, right? With Pharaoh’s army chasing him and the Red Sea in front, panic enveloped two million Israelis. It’s hard to say exactly what Moses felt then—was he angry, or was he simply despairing? But he called out to God. And suddenly, the sea split open, allowing the people to cross safely while Egypt drifted away into the distance.

Sometimes God calms the storm.

He might remove an aggressive cancer or even relocate a bothersome boss. Maybe he replenishes dwindling funds. The weight of winter lifts, revealing a clear blue sky. It’s like breathing fresh spring air.

As a pastor, I often find myself feeling worn out, anxious, and fatigued in this chaotic world. How should I react?

Sometimes he calms the storm. Other times, he calms the child.

Instead of silencing the tempest, he brings peace to the sailor. Rather than instantly curing an illness, he alleviates the anxiety surrounding it. Sometimes, while the storm still rages on, he allows his children to find trust and even sleep amidst the chaos.

Remember that night with Jesus?

After Jesus boarded a boat with his disciples, a fierce storm suddenly struck, overwhelming the vessel with waves. Yet, Jesus was asleep. The disciples woke him in a panic, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re perishing!”

Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he stood up and calmed the wind and the waves, and everything fell silent.
(Matthew 8:23-26, NLT)

What do you think would have been better: Jesus calming the storm, or him peacefully sleeping through it?

How can one find peace in such a storm? The boat was tossing like a ping pong ball, waves crashing on the deck, lightning flashing everywhere. The disciples were in distress. And yet, there was Jesus, treating the boat like his crib.

Do you seek such peace?

If you do, you’re not alone. Anxiety seems to be a common experience now.

According to a recent study, 43% of adults in the U.S. report feeling more anxious than just a year ago. It’s not surprising, really. We face various threats daily—natural disasters, violence abroad, and even the looming impact of AI.

In this whirlwind, our sleep suffers, our conversations grow heavier, and we carry physical and emotional burdens. Unhealthy stress can raise blood pressure, diminish intimacy, and age us prematurely. Even minor anxiety can increase mortality risk by around 20%.

Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes he soothes the child.

He comforted Bill Loveless. Bill, a cherished pastor, faced a dual diagnosis of pancreatic and liver cancer. Instead of succumbing to despair, he found a deeper connection with God. In a letter to a ministry friend, he expressed how this experience plunged him into a richer reality of God’s presence and love. He felt a constant communion with the divine, something he had never truly grasped before.

Then there’s my friend Susanna. She recently buried her husband, becoming a widow at just 40 with two middle school children. It’s unimaginably challenging. Yet, she wrote me two thank-you letters, one for a Bible I gave her and another for the flowers we sent. “I can already see good coming from this,” she said.

God didn’t remove her from the storm, but he gave her calm within it.

The storm in the Garden of Gethsemane was intense, right? No one prayed as fervently as Jesus did the night before his crucifixion. “Can you stop this storm?”

God calmed storms for others like Moses and Daniel, and delivered Paul and Silas. He could easily do the same for his son, but he chose not to.

The cross was part of God’s redemptive plan for his children. He didn’t quiet the storm; instead, he brought peace to his son, allowing Jesus to walk toward Calvary with a calm demeanor. It’s a peace that’s often incomprehensible yet profoundly reassuring.

You can find this peace, too.

I pray that God calms your storm. If he doesn’t, perhaps he’ll grant you calm amidst it. Remember:

“…God’s peace surpasses all understanding.”
(Philippians 4:7, ESV)