Praying Peace into my stormy life

Dear Lord,

I’m speaking Your words over my crazy, jumbled life:

Peace, be still.

I can’t calm down on my own, so help me breathe in Your beauty and Your calm.

Peace, be still.

I can’t control the things around me, so give me the courage to stop trying, stop striving, stop worrying.

Peace, be still.

You guard me, around and before me. You designed me perfectly to carry out Your will. You have marked out my way. So why am I afraid?

Peace, be still.

I wallow in discouragement and negative thinking, and I turn aside from You, searching so many other places to find motivation, assistance, encouragement, affirmation, and love. Help me hear Your words:

Peace, be still. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

You, Prince of Peace, are the answer.

Amen.

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’ ” (Mark 4:37-41)