A Christian Contemplative Practice for Inner Storms

On Anxiety, Fear & Inner Turmoil

Inner storms are real — the swirling chaos of anxiety, fear, anger, grief, or confusion that can make the interior life feel like a violent sea. This practice is for those moments when everything inside feels turbulent, when you cannot find solid ground within yourself. It draws on the image of Christ calming the storm on the sea — and invites you to find that same stillness within.

You cannot always stop the storm. But you can find the still center within it. Every storm has an eye — a place of calm at its center. This contemplative practice helps you locate that eye, that place where God is present even in the midst of chaos.

This is not about pretending the storm isn't real or suppressing what you feel. It is about finding the One who is present in the storm, who speaks peace to troubled waters.

What Are Inner Storms?

Inner storms can arise from many sources — external circumstances, internal conflicts, accumulated stress, grief, uncertainty. They have a particular quality of turbulence that makes it hard to think clearly, rest, or feel grounded.

• Multiple emotions swirling at once
• A sense of being tossed about internally
• Difficulty finding stability or peace
• Racing thoughts that won't settle
• Physical agitation — restlessness, tension, shakiness
• The feeling that you might be overwhelmed

If you recognize these signs, you are in the midst of an inner storm. It is not a character flaw or failure — it is a human experience that requires care and attention.

The Biblical Image of the Storm

In the Gospels, Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee while his disciples panic. "Peace, be still," he says to the wind and waves. But perhaps the deeper miracle is what happens in the disciples' hearts — the moment they realize that even storms answer to this One who sleeps peacefully in the boat.

Christ is still present in your inner storms. He has not abandoned the boat. The same voice that spoke peace to the sea can speak peace to your troubled heart. This practice helps you listen for that voice.

A Contemplative Practice for the Storm

This practice uses the image of the storm and the still center to help you find grounding. It can be done in any position, though sitting or lying down may help.

Lord, there is a storm within me. Waves of emotion, wind of anxious thoughts, the boat of my soul tossing on troubled waters. I cannot calm this storm by my own effort. But You are in the boat with me. You have not abandoned me to the waves. Speak Your peace to my troubled heart. Help me find the still center — the eye of the storm where You are present. I do not need the storm to stop to find peace. I only need to find You within it. Peace, be still. Peace, be still. I rest in Your presence at the center of the chaos.

After the prayer, sit quietly and let the image settle. Imagine the winds still blowing at the edges, but at the center — where you rest with Christ — there is stillness. You do not need to fight the storm. You only need to stay at the center.

Practices for the Eye of the Storm

When you find yourself in an inner storm, these practices can help you locate the still center.

• Name the storm: "This is anxiety. This is grief. This is fear."
• Ground in your body: Feel your feet, your hands, your breath
• Repeat a simple phrase: "Peace, be still" or "Christ is here"
• Visualize the eye of the storm: Calm at the center
• Remember: You are not the storm. You are the one observing it
• Wait: Sometimes the storm passes if you simply wait

These practices do not make the storm disappear instantly. But they help you find your footing, locate the center, and remember that you are not alone in the boat.