“Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:8

The thunder and lightning of a powerful storm rattled my house last night.  As rain slashed against the windows and lightning lit up the dark sky.  I remembered being  woke up years ago to make room for my son to join me and my wife in bed.  I remember thinking with surprise that I didn’t even know it was going to storm. 

What a picture of my life lately.  It’s been a year of unexpected rain.  Some just drizzles, but others, like the storm hitting me most recently, have rattled windows with wave after wave of thunder and bursts of lightning.  What about you?  Is there stormy weather in your life right now?  Where are you finding shelter from the storms? 

My friends and family have been a shelter for me this year, just like my family was that night as we all huddled together in bed.  They’ve encouraged and supported me.  And most importantly, they’ve pointed me to the strongest shelter from the storms, my Heavenly Father.  As I’ve turned to Scripture this week, I’m amazed at the number of times it reminds us God is our shelter.  God knows that we will encounter hard times and His Word reminds us that the strongest and safest shelter is God Himself.

As always we have a choice: get drenched in the rain or seek shelter.  You see, the storms of life can cause us to run toward God, but just as easily they can cause us to turn away.  A whole range of emotions can leave us standing in the rain to get drenched: bitterness, anger, confusion, helplessness, or hopelessness.  If you can relate to these emotions, you might feel badly for having these emotions, but don’t let these feelings keep you from God.  Read the Psalms and you’ll see that God can handle every emotion. Negative emotions are not a reason to turn away from God.  They’re the very reason to turn to Him, desperately wanting the kind of faith and strength only God can provide. 

Keep turning to God, continue to tell Him in prayer how you feel, and leave your emotions with Him.  As you do, you’ll start to feel His nearness, His hope, His promise, and His comfort.  If you find yourself returning to feelings of fear or hopelessness, just go back to God.  Be honest in your prayers.  Acknowledge that you’re having a hard time, but that you want to trust Him in your circumstances. Know that He loves you and will consistently and constantly be your shelter from the storms.

Dear Lord, “Hear my cry, O God; give heed to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength against the enemy.  Let me dwell in Your tent forever; let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.