Doll Indicates Peace During Japan Earthquake

I have not yet experienced an earthquake but I can imagine it can be quite unnerving as everything around you shakes and becomes unstable. Your house might soon become your tomb, and if you venture outside you have to constantly be on guard lest a structure, tree or anything else topples on you.

I feared many things prior to surrendering to Christ. Many of those fears left once I committed to Christ, and as time went on I began to hear about the “peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)” After so many years I began to experience a level of that peace through many trials. I am sure I still have more room to grow in this area, but, thanks to God’s grace, I am not as easily disquieted as I was decades ago.

A few days after that quake struck Japan I came across what I felt was an amazing picture which reminded me that we can have tremendous peace as we face the most tremendous troubles.

Image by Donn Townsend. Used with permission, cropped and slightly edited by author.

The above picture was taken by Donn Townsend and posted on Facebook by his wife, Daisy. The Townsends are missionaries to Japan and were present for the earthquake. Seen above is a breakable praying doll. During the shaking, the pillow the doll was kneeling before moved to the left of the doll. Despite the tremendous shaking, the doll did not drop to the floor and break, but simply toppled to the left in such a way that it looks like the doll’s head is resting on that pillow!

My first thought was how Christ was sleeping on a pillow during the midst of the storm (Mark 4:35-41). His disciples were overcome with fear as they felt the strong wind and saw the towering waves crashing upon their boat. Jesus was sound asleep through all of this. After all, He was in His Father’s care.

When someone surrenders to Christ, this same Jesus, through His Spirit, dwells within that person (John 14:23). As time goes on, His disciple learns to depend upon the finished work of Christ within Himself, so through the course of time, and with Christ working in him as he experiences troubles, the disciple grows the fruit of peace (Galatians 5:22) in his life.

As one continues to walk in Christ, the words He spoke as recorded in John 14:27 become more powerful each day: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

I invite you to come walk and talk with Him throughout the day, and grow to the point where you, too, will respond, as this doll shows, by resting in His peace as you continue to commune with Him no matter what comes your way. And may all of us who claim Christ as Savior and Sovereign grow in such a way.

Notes:

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This article will be part of my series, Bible GemLights, as citrine005.