Sometimes life can throw us some pretty cruel punches. At times life’s storms seem so violent we think we’ll never survive them. Yet, God assures us in his Word that in His presence we will find fullness of joy. He doesn’t qualify that promise. He doesn’t say we’ll find that sublime joy only when the winds and seas are calm and peace prevails. He simply declares without compromise that no matter what our circumstances, be they stormy or calm, when we step into His presence we will experience fullness of joy.
One day Jesus climbed into a boat with his disciples. Once they’d set sail he decided to take a nap. While Jesus slept, a fierce, storm arose so that the boat began to take on water. “Lord, save us!” the men cried, fearful and panicked. Waking Jesus up, they grumbled, “Don’t you care we’re about to perish?” Reading between the lines here, no doubt their cries further ran something like this: “How can you sleep, for goodness sake? Our boat is about to sink and we’re all going to drown! What’s the matter with you, Master, that you seem so unconcerned?”
Jesus, unperturbed, simply stood, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” Immediately the storm ceased and the sea became calm once again. At that point I’m sure the disciples began to laugh and dance with great joy. Relieved, awed, and humbled, they marveled that their Lord had performed such a profound miracle. (See Mark 4:35-41).
Jesus had just taught them that no matter what perils may come their way, they need not fear. The only thing required was a little faith to understand that He was right there in the boat with them and would never leave them or forsake them. He would see them safely through every storm. No matter what, in His presence they could expect to experience fullness of joy.
But how do we enter, then remain in His presence? One way is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Another is to seek God in every task, every detail of our lives. Still another, and perhaps the most important way, is to practice what Paul described as “praying without ceasing.”
Recently I experienced a violent storm of my own. At first I wanted to panic, cover my head, and cower from the danger. Fear threatened to grip me as I struggled to figure out how to save myself from “drowning.” If ever I needed to enter into the peace of His presence, this was it.
So I sought God’s wisdom through His Word. I began to talk to God, pouring out my heart. In moments, I had no doubt He stood near, ready and able to help. He wasn’t asleep, nor was He ignoring my peril. I’d entered into His presence by speaking to Him, by turning my faith toward Him, by trusting that He would calm the storm. In the midst of that awful calamity, I found fullness of joy. Not a half measure. Fullness.
Life here below Heaven isn’t always easy. But like the disciples, I marvel and am humbled that the Lord continues to perform miracles in my life, and that He continues to draw me down the path into His presence where my joy is complete.
One day Jesus climbed into a boat with his disciples. Once they’d set sail he decided to take a nap. While Jesus slept, a fierce, storm arose so that the boat began to take on water. “Lord, save us!” the men cried, fearful and panicked. Waking Jesus up, they grumbled, “Don’t you care we’re about to perish?” Reading between the lines here, no doubt their cries further ran something like this: “How can you sleep, for goodness sake? Our boat is about to sink and we’re all going to drown! What’s the matter with you, Master, that you seem so unconcerned?”
Jesus, unperturbed, simply stood, rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” Immediately the storm ceased and the sea became calm once again. At that point I’m sure the disciples began to laugh and dance with great joy. Relieved, awed, and humbled, they marveled that their Lord had performed such a profound miracle. (See Mark 4:35-41).
Jesus had just taught them that no matter what perils may come their way, they need not fear. The only thing required was a little faith to understand that He was right there in the boat with them and would never leave them or forsake them. He would see them safely through every storm. No matter what, in His presence they could expect to experience fullness of joy.
But how do we enter, then remain in His presence? One way is to immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Another is to seek God in every task, every detail of our lives. Still another, and perhaps the most important way, is to practice what Paul described as “praying without ceasing.”
Recently I experienced a violent storm of my own. At first I wanted to panic, cover my head, and cower from the danger. Fear threatened to grip me as I struggled to figure out how to save myself from “drowning.” If ever I needed to enter into the peace of His presence, this was it.
So I sought God’s wisdom through His Word. I began to talk to God, pouring out my heart. In moments, I had no doubt He stood near, ready and able to help. He wasn’t asleep, nor was He ignoring my peril. I’d entered into His presence by speaking to Him, by turning my faith toward Him, by trusting that He would calm the storm. In the midst of that awful calamity, I found fullness of joy. Not a half measure. Fullness.
Life here below Heaven isn’t always easy. But like the disciples, I marvel and am humbled that the Lord continues to perform miracles in my life, and that He continues to draw me down the path into His presence where my joy is complete.
Pam
There is a great little note concerning this scripture in my Renovarẻ Spiritual Formation Bible. “This verse distills the reasons the psalmist relies on and is loyal to God. It is no burden.” Being with God is not a duty but a delight. In the presence of God we find all joy, grace, mercy, abundance, and fulfillment. God leaves nothing “on the table” when we draw near Him.
Being able to approach the throne of grace boldly and confidently is one of the greatest gifts of grace given to us through the blood of Jesus. As our high priest and ultimate sacrifice, Jesus tore the veil separating us from God so we can be in His presence fully and have a living relationship with Him. “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a high priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” Heb. 10:19-22. How wonderful is that? Because of Jesus’ great love for us he went to the cross so we could be in the presence of God with a clean heart, and without a guilty conscience. (We all know how a guilty conscience has a way of messing up relationships).
And God welcomes us. He wants us to approach Him in good times and in bad. His mailbox is never full. He never gets tired of us if we are around Him too much. We can talk to Him about anything and He will “get it”. When we seek Him we are never an intrusion. He delights in our company always, just as we delight in being with Him. And God is ready, willing and able to assist us. “Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Heb. 4:16. In time of need. That is pretty much daily, if not hourly for me. Life’s not always a train wreck. But stress happens. Appointments are missed, sales are down, and traffic is dreadful. Yet in the midst of all the frustrations that can arise I know I can still be in the presence of God and find joy, peace and grace.
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