Transformative Peace

“The lightning struck a Transformer.”

Those were the words I heard my dad say to my mom as the power went out. We didn’t often have storms where I grew up, and even when we did, they were short-lived and mild. But not this one. This one dumped rain on us in droves, and featured thunder and lightning beyond what I had ever experienced. And, after a huge crash of thunder and flash of white light, our power went out. This was scary on its own, but hearing my dad tell my mom that there were Transformers out there in this storm sent seven-year-old me over the edge with panic. I’d been in the room when my brother watched Transformers, but I hadn’t realized that they were real. I pictured Bumblebee and Optimus Prime out in the storm, a bigger threat than the lightning and rain. As we scrambled for flashlights and tealight candles to light our home, I shook with fear as I envisioned a huge Transformer foot crashing through our home. Much to my dismay, nobody else in my house seemed worried. My parents and brother all seemed content to just ride out the storm. Overwhelmed by the many threats building outside, I began to cry. My sobs came fast and furious and left my family perplexed. When my fearful sobs finally subsided, I asked my parents why they weren’t afraid of the transformers outside. They smiled softly and patiently explained the misunderstanding. Instantly, my fears diminished. In my panic over the storm swirling around me, I had forgotten to look to my parents for peace and understanding.

I wonder how often God sees His people doing the same thing. Whether it’s a life circumstance that is out of our control or the day-to-day chaos we create for ourselves, how often do we forget to turn to Him for understanding and peace? In Mark 4, even the disciples of Jesus struggled to navigate the ship in the storm, waking Jesus from sleep to ask Him, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Of course He does. Our God is a God who sees, and He knows how overwhelmed we can become as the storm swirls around us. Just as Jesus stilled the waves and the wind in the boat with the disciples that day, the same will be done for us in the storms of life, if we have faith in His wisdom. When the whirlwind kicks up, or when the Transformer threatens, our patient God is waiting to offer us His peace and understanding.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Trisha White