Storms of Life

Why does television and movies make thunderstorms so terrifying?  The skies are black, the clouds look like they are churning, the thunder claps often and the lightning looks like electric beams. It isn't often that we get storms like that.  But when we do, everything is on full alert.  Sometimes I sleep right through them, sometimes I sleep like my dog, with one eye open.  Just waiting for the wind to die down, the rain to quit hitting the windows, and for the flashes to stop.

When I was little we got a dog.  My dad told mom that the dog would be good for the kids because he would calm us from the storms and we would stay in bed.  That night, we had a full-blown thunder storm.  At the first clap of thunder, guess who the first one in my parents bed was?  That's right, the dog!  Now it is hysterically funny to me.  But that night was scary.  As I grew up, I learned to do what Maria the nun taught the Von Trapp kids.  "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad."   I grew to love, but respect the storms.  We were told that the thunder was God dumping potatoes into a big wagon, just like what my grandpa did at harvest.  I comfort my kids when they were smaller that the lightning was just God taking their picture. 

Storms are a part of our life, in weather and as troublesome times.  But remember, all storms come from God.  He is the master of them.  Praise God! 

Psalm 93:3-4

 ³ The seas have lifted up, LORD,
   the seas have lifted up their voice;
   the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
⁴ Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea—
   the LORD on high is mighty.

Stormy Weather

Last night, while at church, a big storm blew in.  I am fascinated with storms.  I love to watch the wind blow the trees back and forth, the rain hitting the pavement with that distinct sound like pebbles dropping, and the thunder.  I love storms in the winter too.  The ice pelting and sticking too everything, the snow piling up deep, and the wind so cold, you just stay in by the fire drinking hot chocolate. 

Storms can sometimes show the power of God's nature.  In the Bible, storms were usually something to hide from.  A lot of verses talk about taking refuge from the storm.

Isaiah 4:6
There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

Isaiah 25:4
For You have been a defense for the helpless,A defense for the needy in his distress,A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat;For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall.

Storms also showed Jesus' power over the earth.

Matthew 8:24-27
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep.  And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"
He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.
The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

The storm last night was loud, violent and wet.  Standing out in the storm would have battered me and probably hurt.  We all have storms blow through our lives.  We need to learn to seek refuge in God to hide from the worst.  He is willing to take on the worst if we let him.  Will you let him?