Great Is Your Faithfulnessનમૂનો

Faithful to Calm the Storms

As a native Oklahoman, I have encountered my fair share of terrifying storms as this part of the world is known for her tornadoes, wind storms, and the like. I can recall moments when I was a child that the sirens would begin to roar, signaling that a tornado was within a reasonable proximity and that everyone should take cover, just in case. In those slightly alarming moments, the family would gather in our home's tiny utility room where there was a total space of about 15-20 square feet, half of which was taken up by the washer and dryer. However, despite multiple warnings to shelter in place, my dad would inevitably stand on the back patio to see if he could spot the twister coming toward our home. To this day, I am not certain which was more frightening: the possibility of our home becoming a sizable pile of boards in seconds, or my father potentially being sucked into the vortex of the storm.

While my dad may not have been his most supportive, calming self during those physical storms of my childhood, I have undoubtedly encountered the calming presence of my Heavenly Father in some of the darkest storms of my life. Like you, my life has not been perfect. It has been loaded with rich benefits, immeasurable joy, and blessings beyond what I deserve. But it has also taken me through a few valleys along the way where the pain felt too great to bear, the disappointment deep and wide, and the chaos, palpable.

Life is loaded with mountaintop and valley experiences alike. But I have noticed that I cling to God's protection and direction more intimately when I find myself in the valley. It's dark and uncertain there. Discomfort reigns supreme there. Stormy chaos swirls about. And in the midst of the valley, God is faithful to whisper tenderly and softly, assuring me of His presence and promises to never leave or forsake me.

My friend Gina recently walked through an arduous battle with cancer. She discovered once again the faithfulness of God to calm her, in the midst of the storm.

My most recent encounter with God's faithfulness would be the recent cancer journey I found myself on. Even though I had to go through a physically and emotionally difficult surgery, and still have at least one more surgery to reconstruct, God was faithful in that I do not need chemo, radiation nor hormone blockers, which can have terrible side effects. God carried me through some dark moments.

While God didn't deliver Gina from cancer without the painful surgery and recovery, she did sense His faithful keeping and calming in the midst of each step. Because we are creatures of comfort, it would seem best to us if we never walked through any of life's storms. We'd rather bypass the soaking rain, roaring winds, and boisterous thunder.

The psalmist David wrote from his own stormy experience, running from King Saul yet again, in Psalm 57. David was running for his life, but simultaneously running to God for refuge. Does that feel true to you? Be reminded today: God is faithful to calm the storms of life. You may have heard it said, "Sometimes the Lord calms the storm, and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child." If you are taking cover in your own life-storm today, crawl up beneath the shelter of His wings and experience the calm that only God can provide to you, His child.

Dig a Little Deeper

As you read Psalm 91, require yourself to declare it out loud over your own life, your family, and your household. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal fresh insights from this familiar passage of Scripture, making you keenly aware that the protection, love, and calming presence of God is accessible to those who seek and dwell in the shelter of the Most High. Be encouraged by this beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness on the mountaintop and in the midst of the valley.