Tasha Layton - Peace Be Still Lyrics
Lyrics
O'er the deep and midnight darkness
Dangers wild on every hand
With the winds and waves all crashing
Toils a lonely fisher bed
Faces flushed with tears and terror
Hear their sad and plaintive cry
Drop the oars, the boat is sinking
But the Lord they love is nigh
He who watches from the distance
Rises up His own to save
Hushes winds to calm submission
Quells the storm they could not brave
From the depths they cry out to Him
Then the pure and sacred thrill
Of His voice amid the tempest
Calmly saying, "Peace, be still"
Peace be still
Peace be still
Heart of mine, o cease thy striving
Trust in Him, my dearest friend
Though the storms of life will gather
He will keep thee to the end
When the waves are wildly breaking
And thy soul with terror fills
Thou shall hear, like sweetest music
Jesus saying, "Peace, be still"
Peace be still
Peace be still
Peace be still
Peace be still
Peace be still
Video
Hope Darst - Peace Be Still (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Tasha Layton's rendition of "Peace Be Still," released in 2020, is a profound musical meditation on faith in the face of overwhelming adversity. The song masterfully retells the biblical account found in Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus calms a furious storm, offering solace and reassurance to His disciples. This powerful narrative serves as the bedrock of Layton's interpretation, drawing listeners into a timeless struggle between human fear and divine peace. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a fishing boat battered by a tempest, its occupants gripped by terror as the waves threaten to engulf them. This visceral imagery immediately connects with the reader's own experiences of life's storms, whether they manifest as personal crises, relational turmoil, or spiritual doubts. The cry for help from the fishermen mirrors the universal human plea when faced with insurmountable challenges.
However, the song's true brilliance lies in its pivot from despair to deliverance. The arrival of Jesus, who rises to save His own, is not presented as a mere external intervention but as an internal transformation. Layton emphasizes the power of His voice, a sacred thrill that silences the chaos. The command, "Peace, be still," is not just a silencing of the wind and waves; it is a direct impartation of divine calm into the heart of the storm. This echoes the very nature of God’s presence, which, as Psalm 46:1-3 reminds us, is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. He doesn't necessarily remove the challenges, but He stills the internal tempest of fear that the external circumstances can create.
The song then transitions from the historical narrative to a deeply personal exhortation. "Heart of mine, o cease thy striving" is a direct invitation to the listener to internalize the message. Layton encourages a surrender of self-effort, a trust in God's unfailing promise to keep us to the very end, as promised in verses like John 10:28-29, where Jesus assures His followers that no one can snatch them out of His hand. The parallel drawn between the crashing waves and the soul filled with terror is a poignant reminder that even when life's circumstances feel overwhelming, the "sweetest music" we can hear is the Lord’s voice whispering peace. This is not a passive tranquility but an active faith, a deep-seated assurance that stems from knowing the One who has authority over all things. The repeated refrain of "Peace, be still" becomes an anthem of hope, a constant reminder that in the midst of life’s fiercest storms, the presence and power of Christ offer an unshakeable stillness, a peace that the world cannot comprehend or take away. This song serves as a powerful reminder that the same Jesus who calmed the Sea of Galilee is still very much in the business of calming the storms within our own hearts.