WEATHER THE STORMS

I enjoy spending time in God’s presence while at Lake Ontario. Each time I visit, there are new parallels that come to mind about life and the lake. This year it was perfect to be experiencing life there around the official time of summer’s beginning, enjoying the greatest amount of daylight.

Rain was forecast for the whole day for three of the four days, but God did provide a balance of rain and then periods of dryness and sun each day. While observing both the storms and then better weather,  I thought of how God’s inanimate creations of the water, the sky, and the wind go through rough times just as we do—something  that awed me.

 

But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.  –Jeremiah 10:12-13  (NIV)

We know that our all-wise God, in His power, created the heavens, the earth, and everything on the earth, as well as human beings, the greatest of His creations. Not only did He create them, He also controls the waters, the clouds, and the wind. There is no one more powerful or majestic than God.

 

Dark, heavy clouds moving in.

 

At the lake, there were a few days and times of intense storming where the sky would be filled with very dark clouds, sometimes making it impossible to see the lake right before us. The lake water would become more turbulent, violent, and “angry,” as my husband called it. The wind would howl and blow intensely, making the tree branches bend and sway continually.

After the storm, part of the sky would start to brighten until eventually the whole sky was a baby blue color with some clouds that looked like cotton balls. The water would be calm, still, and peaceful, even appearing like a sheet of glass. The wind would die down, and if we were lucky, we would have a gentle breeze to help cool us down.

 

The calm, glass-like appearance of Lake Ontario.

 

Do the patterns of the sky, the water, and the wind remind you of our lives when we experience both periods of struggles and then peaceful times?

Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.  –Psalm 107:23-32  (NIV)

 

 

In the storms of life, what three takeaways can we see from this Scripture?

 

*Cry out to the Lord.

It is important to be honest with the Lord whether we are enjoying blessings or in the messiest parts of our lives. He wants to join in our sufferings and is always there waiting for us to share our hearts with Him as we walk together.

 

*The Lord will bring us out of our distress.

Isn’t it comforting to know that the Lord will bring us out of our distress? He walks with us through our storms, and we know that eventually He will bring us out of them. One way or another, the Lord will find a way to calm the storm.

 

*The Lord will guide us to safety.

The Lord loves us and cares deeply for us. As we grow deeper in faith and trust, we know in our hearts that He leads us to safety no matter what we are weathering. The Lord assures us in His Word that He is our refuge and will guide us to a safe place.

 

A beautiful sunset before hiding behind the clouds on the horizon.

 

Keep in mind that God is always with us, in both the rough and smooth times. I will leave you to reflect on this excerpt from an original Spanish prayer entitled Nada Te Turbe (Let Nothing Disturb You).

Let nothing disturb you,
nothing shake you.
Everything passes,
God does not change.

Even if everything is lost,
God alone suffices.

~ St. Teresa of Avila

 

Be encouraged this week to…

…let the Lord weather the storms with you.

…see the Lord bring you out of your distress.

…seek refuge with the Lord.

 

REFLECTION:

What was one of your lowest points when you cried out to the Lord?
What storm did the Lord bring you through?

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  –Psalm 18:2  (NLT)