"Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me,
for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You;
yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident
until calamities and destructive storms are passed."
Psalm 57:1 (amplified)
This year has been full of
challenges for my husband and I and our children. Each one of us have
experienced disappointment, turmoil, financial difficulties, stupid cars and
sometimes even stupid people. This past week has been especially hard for me
with a number of things crashing down around me; add to that waking up
yesterday sick with no voice and I'm just feeling done...
Today
as I was waiting for my son at the high school, my phone chirped with a
Facebook notification. I pulled up my Facebook page and a friend from my high
school days had posted a picture. She lives in Colorado and as you may know,
they have been pounded with storms and deluged with rain. But this photograph,
taken from an airplane as someone flew over Colorado, was an amazing example to me
of the hope we have in God when we are facing overwhelming storms.
This
picture shows the fiercely dark clouds and torrential rains falling on what
appears to be an isolated portion of the landscape; these buckets of rain
coming straight down out of the clouds with such force you can almost see the
rain bounce back up off the ground. And yet, in the midst of this storm, bright rays of sunlight break through the clouds, streak across the sky and slice
right into the rain.
While I was waiting for my son, I had been praying and asking God
to show me once again where He was in all of the storms we were battling. And in a moment, through a simple photograph posted by a friend I haven't seen in 35 years, He reminded me that
He is there all the time. In the midst of our storms, His love and mercy and
unending faithfulness breaks through even the darkest clouds and shines down,
bringing warmth, love, comfort and HOPE.
And
I was reminded of a song...
When
storms of life assail
When
I an feeling frail.
I
place my trust in You, O Lord,
You
never fail.
(Geron
Davis)
As you look at this picture, do you notice that the rain is isolated, the storm focused on one area? Do you feel that way? Does it seem that your life is a perpetual storm and yet those around you are experiencing sunny days? Do you feel alone and find yourself asking God, "Where are You?"
Rest assured He is there right with you. He will be your shelter in the storm, your place of refuge...your safe haven. And the light of His love will break through the storm and give you peace.
'Lena
©Be Still and Know
