Peace

Peace… we all long for it. We all want it in our homes. We all desire it for our children. So if peace is what we are all chasing after, why does it seem so elusive most days?

There is a popular story in the Bible that recounts a time when Jesus was in a boat

with his disciples. Suddenly a fierce and violent storm appeared and the waves were tossing the tiny boat dangerously around the sea. The boat was literally being swamped with water. Jesus’ disciples were terrified and thought they were all going to die. They found Jesus asleep in the stern of the boat with his head on a pillow.

“Jesus!” they shouted. “Don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?”

The Bible tells us that it was only then that Jesus stood up and said to the sea, “Peace. Be Still.” The wind and waves obeyed, and the sea turned into a great calm.

Not many of us today are caught in a boat in the middle of the sea during a huge storm. We have not experienced the fear and terror that violent waves can cause. However, we all have been terrified by the storms that life throws upon us.

I’ve been swamped with waves before—with storms that seem to come out of nowhere and almost take me over. My family has been tossed about and we have feared we would drown. And maybe you have too.

Maybe the bills are piling up. Maybe the car broke down for the second time in three weeks. Maybe the kids are sick - again. Maybe you and your spouse can’t quit fighting. Maybe your family is being tossed about by addiction or job loss or a terrible diagnosis. Maybe the waves continue to crash over you and you’re not sure if you will survive.

And maybe all you want to do is to go find Jesus sleeping on your couch and yell at him “Jesus! Don’t you even care that I’m about to drown?”

Wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus stood up off the couch and commanded your home “Peace. Be Still”?

I know what it’s like to ache for peace for my family—to cry to Jesus to wake up and save us before we drown. And I know so many of you feel the same way. That’s why I am very excited and hopeful about our upcoming family conference at Emmanuel - Parenting Toward Peace. Many parents have reached out to me over the years, asking for help with bringing peace to their household. And while there is no magic potion to bring you peace, there are things you can do as a parent to have a happier, lighter, and more peaceful home.

During the conference we will have experts in early childhood, the medical field, speech and occupational therapy, behavior and discipline, and faith formation to speak with you about how you can bring peace to your home. And we will all be there to encourage you to keep going, to not give up hope, and seek Jesus even when it feels like you are drowning. I urge you to sign up and invite your friends. Take that step toward peace today.

Oh—and one more thing. Did you notice that when the disciples rush to Jesus, he is sleeping on a pillow? I like to picture him with a couch cushion under his head, his feet propped up, and a baseball cap covering his eyes. Jesus, my friends, had made himself comfortable. He wasn’t going anywhere that day on the sea. He was in the middle of the storm, and he was staying.

And so he still is—hanging out with us on our good days and bad days. Making himself at home with our family. Dozing off on a pillow on the couch because he will never leave us. He is in the storms with us. And that is peace indeed.