View source for THE GREAT CALM

'''Back to [[THE WORDS OF JESUS]]'''
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<p>&quot;Remember&nbsp;<em>the  words of the Lord Jesus</em>, how He said,&quot;<br><br>
  <em>&quot;Take  courage!</em><em>&nbsp;</em><strong><em>It is I</em></strong><em>--do  not be afraid!&quot;</em>&nbsp;— Mark 6:50<br><br>
  Jesus lives! His people may dispel their misgivings--for&nbsp;<em>Omnipotence</em><em>&nbsp;</em>treads the waves! To sense it may seem at times to  be otherwise--wayward accident and chance may appear to regulate human  allotments; but not so! &quot;The Lord's voice is upon the waters!&quot; He  sits at the helm guiding the tempest-tossed bark, and guiding it well.<br><br>
  How often does He come to us as He did  to the disciples in that midnight hour when all seems lost, &quot;in the fourth  watch of the night,&quot; — when we least looked for Him; or when, like the  shipwrecked apostle, &quot;When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days  and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being  saved!&quot; — how often&nbsp;<em>just at that moment,</em>&nbsp;is  the &quot;word of Jesus&quot; heard  floating over the billows, &quot;Take courage! It is I--do not be afraid!&quot;<br><br>
  Believer, are you in<em>&nbsp;</em><em>trouble?</em><em>&nbsp;</em>Listen  to the&nbsp;<em>voice in the storm</em>, &quot;It is I--do not be afraid!&quot; That  voice, like Joseph's of old to his  brethren, may&nbsp;<em>seem</em>&nbsp;rough  — but there are&nbsp;<em>gracious undertones</em><em>&nbsp;</em>of love.&nbsp;<em>&quot;It  is I!&quot;</em>&nbsp;He seems to say: &quot;It&nbsp;<em>was</em>&nbsp;I  — who&nbsp;<em>roused</em> the storm! It is I — who when it has done its work, will&nbsp;<em>calm</em><em>&nbsp;</em>it, and say, 'Peace, be still.' Every wave rolls at  My bidding — every trial is My appointment — all have some gracious end; they  are not sent to dash you against the sunken rocks — but to&nbsp;<em>waft  you nearer to Heaven!&quot;</em> <br><br>
  Is it&nbsp;<em>sickness?</em>&nbsp;&quot;I  am He who ordained your sicknesses; the weary wasted frame, and the nights of  languishing — were sent by Me!&quot;<br><br>
  Is it&nbsp;<em>bereavement?</em>&nbsp;&quot;I  am 'the Brother' born for adversity! Your loved and lost were plucked away by  Me!&quot;<br><br>
  Is it&nbsp;<em>death?</em><em>&nbsp;</em>&quot;I am the 'Abolisher of death,' seated by your  side to calm the waves of ebbing life! It is I — about to fetch My pilgrim&nbsp;<em>home</em>. It is My voice that speaks: the Master has come —  and calls for you!&quot;<br><br>
  Reader, you will have reason yet to  praise your God for every such<em>&nbsp;</em><em>storm!</em>&nbsp;This  is the history of every&nbsp;<em>heavenly voyager</em>,  &quot;<em>SO</em><strong> He</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>brings them to their desired haven.&quot;&nbsp;<em>&quot;So!&quot;</em>&nbsp;That  word, in all its unknown and diversified meaning, is in&nbsp;<em>His</em>&nbsp;hand.  He suits<em> His dealings</em><em>&nbsp;</em>to every case.&nbsp;<em>&quot;So!&quot;</em>&nbsp;With  some it is through quiet seas unfretted by one buffeting wave.&nbsp;<em>&quot;So!&quot;</em>&nbsp;With  others it is &quot;mounting up to heaven, and going down again to the  deep!&quot; But whatever is the leading and the discipline, here is the grand  consummation, &quot;<em>SO</em>&nbsp;<strong>He</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>brings  them to their desired haven!&quot; It might have been with you the moaning of  an eternal night-blast — no lull or pause in the storm. But soon the darkness  will be past — and the hues of morn tipping the shores of glory!<br><br>
  And what, then, should your attitude  be? &quot;Looking unto Jesus!&quot;  Looking away from&nbsp;<em>self</em>,  and&nbsp;<em>sin</em>,  and&nbsp;<em>human props</em>,  and<em> earthly refuges</em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>confidences</em>&nbsp;—  and fixing the eye of unwavering and unflinching faith on a reigning Savior!  Ah, how a real quickening sight of Christ — dispels  all guilty fears! The Roman keepers of  old were frightened, and became as dead men. The lowly Jewish women were not  afraid; why?&nbsp;<em>&quot;I know that you seek Jesus!&quot;</em>&nbsp;Reader,  let your weary spirit fold itself to rest under the composing &quot;word&quot;  of a gracious Saviour, saying, &quot;I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,  and in<em>&nbsp;</em><em>His Word</em><em>&nbsp;</em>do  I hope.&quot;</p>