Rembrandt on Jesus in the midst of the Storm
I have been thinking about Him, sleeping, quiet, at peace in the storm. Like a baby, warm, deep breath sleep, soundly at rest--restoring, trusting, fret-free existence in the calm of slumber.
How? Knowing that his beloved Father loves him and will care for Him. Knowing the Father knows all things and is the transcendent, creator, ruler, compassionate, trustworthy One.
In my storms, I am timid, fragile, fearful, doubting.
He knew I would need Him, picturing for me the peace that passes understanding amidst the gales and torrential, unrelenting issues of life, so that two thousand years beyond I would have a image of what it means to rest in the storm.
"that they may know that you have loved them, even as you have loved me." John 17:23--He who loved and cared for Jesus in his storm, loves me just as much.
He who was with Jesus, is with me.
leaving me a psalm, a song to know I am secure:
1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" 3For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. 4He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. 5You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; 6Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. 7A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. 8You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. 9For you have made the LORD, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. 10No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. 11For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. 12They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. 13You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 14"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and )honor him. 16"With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation."
Psalm 91
He is still the calm in the midst of storms, the peace and rest in the torrents, the comfort and lover and One who is powerful above all and still says to the powers that threaten, "Be still."
So, today, I am seeking to be in that vortex of peace, beauty, rest, calm because He is here with me.