If I ever thought I could be an economist, today's Wall Street Journal would disabuse me of the notion. The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all posted gains yesterday. Yet one economist says, "We have a real tug of war in the market--the big question is whether we're going into a recession in 2008. Nobody knows, but the mood is so nervous that [the market looks] very indecisive and volatile." Goldman Sachs capped another record-breaking year, but its shares fell. Palm posted a quarterly loss while Apple is bringing the iPhone to Japan. Is anyone else confused?

There's only one Source of true peace in our world. This week we are watching Jesus prove that he is Isaiah's Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), as he calms both the stormy Sea of Galilee and the fearful hearts of his followers (Mark 4:35-41). Yesterday we asked the question, Why did the disciples wait so long to call on his help? Why do we?

Think about your own experience with storms--at home, at school, at work. Do you pray first, or last? Do you decide what to do, then ask God to bless your decision if you turn to him at all? Do you fix the problem as best you can, before calling on God if you can't?

Why don't we turn to Jesus when the storm first attacks? Some of us don't think we need to. We think our boat is big enough, the storm small enough, our abilities good enough, our training and experience all that's needed. Like these veteran sailors, we've been through storms on our lake before, and we know how to handle our boats. We like rowing. We don't need help. But no boat, no ability, no possession, no resource is enough to live at peace without God. That's just how he made the world, and us.

Some of us have given up on peace. We accept storms as a way of life. We've been through so many downpours, so many hurricanes that we've given up on peace in our hearts or homes. We're accustomed to a life filled with stress and strife, hectic hurry and perennial pressure. All the while, the Prince of Peace waits to give peace to our hearts and souls, to calm our storms, to bring tranquility to our lives. If we will ask.

And some of us have given up on God. He's been asleep in our boat before. We prayed without answers, or so we think. We grieved without hope, suffered without help, rowed on our own. Or so it seems to us. So let him sleep. All the while, he's waiting for us to turn to him first, before we go under. Before it's too late.

Where is your storm? How can Jesus bring you peace? :Let's continue tomorrow.

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