1 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 2 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: listening with us. 3 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:21,540 Speaker 2: Today's topic is about how God provides perfect peace for 4 00:00:21,739 --> 00:00:25,770 Speaker 2: us in the midst of storms. We'll return with the 5 00:00:25,790 --> 00:00:43,830 Speaker 2: devotional after a message from our sponsors. When God Calms You, 6 00:00:44,370 --> 00:00:46,809 Speaker 2: written and read by Alexis A. 7 00:00:47,130 --> 00:00:47,550 Speaker 1: Goring. 8 00:00:48,690 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble. 9 00:00:53,300 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 2: Psalm 46, verse 1, NIV. Have you ever felt overwhelmed 10 00:01:00,620 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 2: by the stars of life? Do you desperately seek refuge 11 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,510 Speaker 2: only to not find relief? If so, then this message 12 00:01:09,709 --> 00:01:13,730 Speaker 2: is for you. There's a story about a king who 13 00:01:13,770 --> 00:01:17,770 Speaker 2: hosted a contest for artists. The artist was asked to 14 00:01:17,810 --> 00:01:22,090 Speaker 2: paint a picture that represents peace. While I have not 15 00:01:22,170 --> 00:01:25,550 Speaker 2: seen the visual artwork from the king's contest, I learned 16 00:01:25,610 --> 00:01:29,430 Speaker 2: about a modern-day artist named Jack E. Dawson who heard 17 00:01:29,490 --> 00:01:32,809 Speaker 2: about this same story and was inspired to paint the 18 00:01:32,850 --> 00:01:37,279 Speaker 2: picture of peace. According to Google AI Overview about the 19 00:01:37,330 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 2: inspiration behind the painting, Artists Jack E. Dawson did not 20 00:01:42,060 --> 00:01:46,180 Speaker 2: enter or win an actual arts contest for his famous painting, 21 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,550 Speaker 2: Peace in the Mist of the Storm. Rather, he was 22 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,750 Speaker 2: inspired to paint it after hearing a traditional parable about 23 00:01:54,810 --> 00:01:59,350 Speaker 2: a king's art contest. Dawson heard a story years prior 24 00:01:59,790 --> 00:02:02,330 Speaker 2: during a church revival about a king who held a 25 00:02:02,370 --> 00:02:06,210 Speaker 2: contest for artists to paint the best representation of peace. 26 00:02:07,050 --> 00:02:11,890 Speaker 2: While most artists submitted calm links sunset, and peaceful meadows, 27 00:02:12,350 --> 00:02:17,470 Speaker 2: the winning painting depicted a harsh, roaring waterfall, a stormy 28 00:02:17,550 --> 00:02:22,460 Speaker 2: sky with lightning, and a rugged cliff. Upon closer inspection, 29 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,340 Speaker 2: a tiny bird was tucked safely in a nest within 30 00:02:26,380 --> 00:02:27,260 Speaker 2: a crack in. 31 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:29,419 Speaker 1: The rock behind the rushing water. 32 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,210 Speaker 2: The king explained that true peace is not the absence 33 00:02:33,250 --> 00:02:39,030 Speaker 2: of noise, trouble, or hardship. but rather being completely calm 34 00:02:39,350 --> 00:02:41,929 Speaker 2: and secure in the middle of chaos. 35 00:02:43,210 --> 00:02:44,570 Speaker 1: What can we learn from this? 36 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 2: I believe this story and painting teach us that God 37 00:02:48,580 --> 00:02:51,700 Speaker 2: can calm us and shelter us in the midst of 38 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:55,990 Speaker 2: raging storms. Like the song by Scott Cropain says, and 39 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:59,810 Speaker 2: I paraphrase, God will either calm the storm around us 40 00:03:00,070 --> 00:03:01,650 Speaker 2: or he will calm. 41 00:03:01,330 --> 00:03:03,510 Speaker 1: Us with his presence in the storm. 42 00:03:04,540 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 2: Just like the painting of a bird being sheltered in 43 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,010 Speaker 2: the storm, we too are safe with God and the 44 00:03:11,050 --> 00:03:14,750 Speaker 2: stars of life. I remember when I was in college, 45 00:03:14,910 --> 00:03:17,070 Speaker 2: I had to walk a few miles to an assignment 46 00:03:17,110 --> 00:03:17,630 Speaker 2: for class. 47 00:03:18,150 --> 00:03:21,010 Speaker 1: I usually checked the weather before walking anywhere, but that 48 00:03:21,050 --> 00:03:21,810 Speaker 1: day I didn't. 49 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:26,820 Speaker 2: So, I was totally unprepared for the rainstorm that showered 50 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 2: down from the sky at the time I had to 51 00:03:29,220 --> 00:03:31,500 Speaker 2: return to the dorm where I lived as a student. 52 00:03:32,750 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: Accepting that I'd be completely waterlogged by the time I 53 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: reached my destination, I focused on walking slowly so I 54 00:03:40,020 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: would not slip on the wet pavement of the sidewalks. 55 00:03:43,860 --> 00:03:46,820 Speaker 2: After walking carefully for a few minutes, the rain began 56 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: to soak my clothes. But before I was completely drenched 57 00:03:50,580 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: in water, a small bus slowly pulled up beside me. 58 00:03:54,340 --> 00:03:57,510 Speaker 2: The door opened, and without hesitation, I entered the bus 59 00:03:57,710 --> 00:03:59,890 Speaker 2: and thanked the driver for the ride that was going 60 00:03:59,930 --> 00:04:03,220 Speaker 2: to provide shelter for me in this storm. He drove 61 00:04:03,260 --> 00:04:05,540 Speaker 2: me back to the front entrance of the dorm where 62 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 2: I was staying, keeping the conversation about the weather. 63 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:11,370 Speaker 1: Lighthearted during the entire five-minute ride. 64 00:04:12,290 --> 00:04:15,270 Speaker 2: I thanked him again as I exited the bus and 65 00:04:15,310 --> 00:04:17,909 Speaker 2: walked a few steps into the dorm where I was 66 00:04:17,990 --> 00:04:20,130 Speaker 2: now completely safe from the storm. 67 00:04:21,010 --> 00:04:23,740 Speaker 1: Looking back on that day, I sensed God in it. 68 00:04:24,450 --> 00:04:27,300 Speaker 2: God knew that I needed shelter and safety, so he 69 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,010 Speaker 2: provided it. The same God who did that for me 70 00:04:30,070 --> 00:04:33,830 Speaker 2: then can do that and more for you now. Whether 71 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:36,469 Speaker 2: you are going through a physical storm outdoors with rain 72 00:04:36,490 --> 00:04:40,730 Speaker 2: drenching you, thunder booming that's scaring you, and lightning flashing 73 00:04:40,770 --> 00:04:44,870 Speaker 2: before your eyes, or you're experiencing the trials and tribulations 74 00:04:44,950 --> 00:04:47,430 Speaker 2: of life, I encourage you to remember that you are 75 00:04:47,490 --> 00:04:50,810 Speaker 2: not alone. Jesus Christ tells us He is with us 76 00:04:50,950 --> 00:04:55,750 Speaker 2: in John 16, verse 33, NIV. He says, I have 77 00:04:55,830 --> 00:04:58,050 Speaker 2: told you these things so that in me you may 78 00:04:58,110 --> 00:05:01,490 Speaker 2: have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but 79 00:05:01,570 --> 00:05:05,590 Speaker 2: take heart, I have overcome the world. If you would 80 00:05:05,610 --> 00:05:08,790 Speaker 2: like to see the famous modern day painting representing peace 81 00:05:08,910 --> 00:05:10,770 Speaker 2: and learn more about it in the words of the 82 00:05:10,830 --> 00:05:12,010 Speaker 2: artist Jackie. 83 00:05:11,650 --> 00:05:13,940 Speaker 1: Dawson, visit his website. 84 00:05:15,140 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 2: In closing, I'd like for you to listen to and 85 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:23,090 Speaker 2: reflect on these three songs. Song reflection number one. Sometimes 86 00:05:23,130 --> 00:05:27,950 Speaker 2: He Calms the Storm by Scott Kropane. Song of Reflection No. 2, 87 00:05:27,950 --> 00:05:33,130 Speaker 2: A Secret Place by Karen Clark Sheard. Song of Reflection No. 3, 88 00:05:33,130 --> 00:05:35,580 Speaker 2: Peace by Dacha Ronita Bynum. 89 00:05:37,020 --> 00:05:38,380 Speaker 1: Intersecting faith and life. 90 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:41,700 Speaker 2: The next time you feel afraid while experiencing a storm 91 00:05:41,779 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: and you need shelter, will you ask God to provide refuge? 92 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,630 Speaker 2: How does it feel to know that Jesus Christ can 93 00:05:48,670 --> 00:05:51,469 Speaker 2: give you perfect peace in the midst of any storm? 94 00:05:52,740 --> 00:05:53,380 Speaker 1: Further reading. 95 00:05:54,000 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 2: Ephesians 2, verse 14. Philippians 4, verse 7. John 14, 96 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:09,779 Speaker 2: verse 27. Isaiah 9, verse 6. Isaiah 26, verse 3. 97 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 98 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,420 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 99 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,980 Speaker 2: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 100 00:06:20,500 --> 00:06:23,940 Speaker 1: When you follow Your Daily Prayer, in your favorite podcast app, 101 00:06:24,260 --> 00:06:27,020 Speaker 1: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day 102 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,930 Speaker 1: so your days begin in conversation with God. 103 00:06:30,670 --> 00:06:33,390 Speaker 2: If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your 104 00:06:33,430 --> 00:06:36,610 Speaker 2: day with your heart focused on the right things, search 105 00:06:36,930 --> 00:06:40,690 Speaker 2: for Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and 106 00:06:40,730 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 2: be sure to follow the show so you get a 107 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 2: new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.