I love a good storm. The wind blowing through the trees. The rain pounding on the pavement. The thunder announcing the skies breaking open, and the lightning putting on the most majestic display. I love the way the earth smells after the rain, as though every living thing is breathing in new life.
The best part about a storm is being under the shelter and safety of my home, drinking a fresh cup of coffee and reading a good book as the storm rages. It’s cozy and ironically peaceful. But I know if I were outside, caught in the middle of the thunderstorm, I would be thinking and feeling very differently.
There have been times in my life that a thunderstorm has taken me by surprise, and it was anything but pleasant or enjoyable. When a thunderstorm catches you off guard, you find yourself drenched and cold. If you’re lucky, that will be the worst of it. Many storms can become dangerous to those unprepared. From hail to freezing rain to strong winds and lightning, a thunderstorm is not something most of us run to. It’s in these moments that we seek shelter.
The same way we seek out refuge from nature’s storms, God’s presence provides us with refuge during the storms of life. Like most thunderstorms, the storms of life often come unannounced. They don’t ask for an invitation, and they certainly don’t wait for a convenient, opportune time in our lives before unleashing their power. Some of the biggest storms that I have ever walked through are the ones I never saw coming. And as much as I want quick solutions and a way out, I know that all I need in those moments is found in the presence of Jesus.
Psalm 91:2 says,
“He alone is my refuge, my place of safety” (NLT).
And verse four tells us,
“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection” (NLT).
When we call upon Jesus in the most difficult moments of life, He swoops in like a protective, mothering bird and covers us in His feathers. His promises surround and protect us, reminding us of His Word. As the storm rages on, His presence brings us peace and hope. And most importantly, it takes our focus off of our storm and puts it on Him; our Deliverer, our Redeemer, our Rescuer, and our Savior.
The enemy wants nothing more than to drown you in the storms of life. He wants you frantic, anxious, tired, and hopeless. He wants you constantly checking the news, filling your mind with every bad report. He wants to use the storm to distract you and take your focus off of your purpose, your gifts, your calling, your family, your ministry—-essentially every path in which God has ordered your steps.
But when we run into the presence of the Lord in the midst of a storm, we not only silence the enemy, but we become renewed and refocused. It’s been during some of the most difficult, challenging times of my life, where I couldn’t see the light above the dark clouds, that the Lord has done the greatest work within me and my family. And it has been in those moments that I have heard His voice the clearest. You see, His presence doesn’t just provide shelter; it provides us with armor and protection, meaning we do not walk out of that storm the same way we went in! We walk out with vision and with strength, having been in the presence of the almighty Lord and having heard from Him.
Next time a storm comes your way and the enemy begins to fill your mind with fear, look at the storm as an invitation for the Lord to breathe something new into you. Run to His presence with expectation and hope. The storm might not end, but it will not leave you the same. Let His presence renew you, and let His promises strengthen you. You may have walked into the refuge of His wings overcome by the darkness of the storm, but you will walk out with the light of His glory!
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