"Peace"

by Cheryl Griffin

Editor's Note: Difficult days sometimes come for our families. In the middle of these horrible storms, we can easily feel abandoned, forgotten, and alone. From the depths of one family's struggle comes the reminder that far from being forgotten, Jesus goes with us through these storms to bring us to a better place, even if the journey seems frighteningly dark and long.

    Have you ever struggled with a teenager until you're so tired you just want to throw in the towel? Have you ever ached with worry as you lie awake in the wee hours of the morning wondering where your teen might be? Isn't that just the worst feeling?

    My husband and I had struggled with my eldest son for over a year. Within that brief time he had gone from a fairly trouble free, happy go lucky kid to one who was sullen and rude and bucking authority. At first we thought it was just a phase he was going through and prayed that it would be a brief one.

    My son began to run with a rough crowd at school. It wasn't long until he was known as a troublemaker. His grades dropped. He lost friends. The choices he made caused us to have to clamp down on him and limit his activities. He grew to resent everything he once loved -- his family, his church youth group, his best friend. I struggled to make any sense of it.

    Eventually my son ran away from home. Only sixteen years old and gone! This was not supposed to be the way he would leave home. He was supposed to snap out of his rebellious stage. He was supposed to finish school when he turned 18, graduate and then in the fall go off to college. That's what we all looked forward to him doing. But run away? Never! I stood in his room staring at his empty closets and drawers not willing to believe he was gone. The pain I felt at that moment was unbearable. I knew my heart would surely bust out of my chest from thumping so hard. The fear and panic was engulfing me. Where was he? Where did he go? Who was he with? Questions came hard and fast in my mind and I had no answers. My son was gone and I had no idea where.

    I remember making my way to the phone in my bedroom and calling my husband. His voice was firm and composed as he told me he was coming right home. I hung the phone up and felt my legs crumple under me as I fell to the floor and cried. It was as though I was being swept up and away in a storm that had suddenly burst forth from the sky. I had no more control than I would have if I had been caught up in a whirlwind.

    In the days that followed I prayed a lot. I remember feeling frustrated and angry. Mostly I was afraid -- afraid for my son. Afraid for my other children and how they were being affected. Afraid that my husband and I would be pulled apart. Afraid of making decisions for fear they would be wrong. Afraid of what my friends and family would think. I was bogged down with fears. I cried out to God. After my complaints were tossed at God and my emotions were spent, I fell silent before Him. And from that silence, God brought to my remembrance a portion of His Word.

    In Mark 4:35-41, Jesus and his disciples were in the boat. There arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and the disciples awoke Him. They were crying out in fear wondering if He cared?

    Do you remember what Jesus said as he woke? He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. "Peace", Jesus had said, "be still". My heart knew He was speaking to me at that very moment. "Hush. Peace be still. I know. I see. I am in control. Peace." What a faithful God. The storm within me was finally spent. There was peace. Quiet. Calm. My soul was still.

    The problems concerning my son were not solved by any means. In fact it would be a three-year roller coaster ride before things between our son and us would start settling down. God had not abandoned us. He had not left us alone to face the storm. He was there with us all the way, even on the days when the storm seemed unliveable and we seemed so alone. He was there all along whispering "Peace, be still." For those tough days to come, there was peace from God. Peace in prayer. Peace in believing. Peace in knowing that no matter what storms came our way Jesus would be in the midst of them saying, "Peace, be still."

Posted: 01/11/2001
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200101/20010111_peace.html

(c) 2000, Cheryl Griffin. Used by permission." -->

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