September 22: Peace Be Still

Key Scripture: He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be

still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm (Mark 4:39, NIV)

Dr. Tracey Ann Trail

    Storms can shake us to the core, sometimes in ways we never expected. For my family,

one such storm started with my father’s sudden episodes of severe abdominal pain and bloating

that would leave him wailing in pain and agony. Soon after, he began losing weight rapidly. Test

after test, medication after medication, yet answers came slowly. Nearly a year passed before the

doctors finally diagnosed him with Crohn’s disease.

    The relief of finally discovering a name for his condition was quickly replaced by another

challenge: the surgery he needed could not be performed in the Turks and Caicos. He had to go

abroad. During that uncertain time, we turned to God in prayer and fasting, asking for doors to be

opened, and God answered. A family friend who was a doctor recommended Advent Health in

Daytona Beach, Florida. By His grace, my father’s insurance at the time covered most of the

costs, and through providential arrangements, the rest was taken care of. Just two months after

his surgery, the insurance company went bankrupt. We could only marvel at how God provided

at just the right moment.

    Today, my father still faces challenges. He must undergo infusions and live with the

possibility of side effects. Yet even now, God is calming the storm. Every prayer is met with His

sustaining peace. While the disease is not gone, my father is much healthier, and his heart is

filled with hope. Praise God for His goodness. This journey reminds us that sometimes peace is

not the absence of the storm but the strength to endure it with Christ in the boat.

    Three powerful messages have been imprinted on my mind through these experiences,

and I believe they also apply to others. First, remember that life’s storms can sometimes last a

long time and be painful, but we should continue to seek God’s guidance. Second, just as God

opened doors to the right hospital and insurance at the right moment, trust that He will lead us

when we rely on Him in the unknown. The timing of God’s provision for the insurance before

the company went into bankruptcy showed that He is involved in every detail of our lives. Third,

trust His Sustaining Grace. God’s plan for your storm might not mean it will be completely over.

Still, God provides strength, peace, and even joy to endure with hope.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the One who calms storms both around us and within us. Thank You for

providing healing and for sustaining us through trials. Teach us to trust You when the winds

don’t cease and the waves don’t vanish. May we rest in Your presence, draw strength from Your

Spirit, and continue to praise You in every season. Amen.