Living Through Peace
“Peace is not the absence of turmoil; it is confidence during turmoil.” – Roosevelt Hunter
I remember the last time I saw Roosevelt Hunter. He was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His message focused on Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus calmed the storm while he and his disciples were traveling on a boat. This story is only a few verses in the fourth chapter, but it is one of my favorites because it is such an important lesson for me to learn.
Mark 4:35-41 (New International Version)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?“
As Roosevelt walked us through the Word, he shared his own story of going through a storm in his life that nearly swamped him. Roosevelt had been diagnosed with cancer after doctors had discovered a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen. He explained that during his preaching he might pause from time to time to let a wave of pain pass. Sure enough, he paused a couple of times during his message.
About one week ago, Roosevelt passed from this life in peace. He experienced great calm because of the confidence that Jesus was going to calm the storm in his life. I admire Roosevelt and look to the example of his life, lived in faithful peace that brought confidence in turmoil.
Jesus’ question, “Do you still have no faith?” compels me to integrate my life and my faith. I can’t simply live life on my own only to be battered by a storm and cry out in fear to God. My faith should lead my life in such a way that I surrender all of it to God. That way, when storms do arise unexpectedly, I will be able to live my life through peace in confidence, not fear. “Peace is not the absence of turmoil; it is confidence during turmoil.”
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I'm Anthony Coppedge, a follower of Jesus, a husband to my uber-bride and father to four great kids. I help ministries leverage technology and communicate with a digitally-infused culture. I'm passionate about this, so that makes me a Technology & Communications Evangelist. I attend and volunteer at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX and love it!
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Going thru it now.