Shelter

I had heard it was coming...the weatherman had predicted it...so it was a quickly remembered event when the thunder announced the downpour of the storm's arrival in the early part of the morning. I jumped out of bed to let the cat in...who generally is sitting on the front porch in total disgust that the rains had tampered with his night...and then went to let Bentley, my lab, in who was tucked securely in her house on the back covered porch. But she wouldn't budge...I went out and tried to entice her but still she was set to stay just where she was. This was a first. Usually she is up and anxious to be inside when stormy weather hits. Not this time...she was going to sit this one out...calmly and confidently in the security of her own spot...and that she did....with seemingly no regrets... (no crying or whimpering after I had gone)!

What had changed her? Why was she, now, not only able to sit it out but determined to stay put? The only thing I can figure is we have been out of town a bunch and the lady who keeps her has a large, covered, protected, back porch between her garage and her house and Bentley stays outside her house...usually with several other free roaming dogs...and she has become used to it when it rains, and pours and thunders.

Storms have the ability to terrify children at the sound of thunder...and the sights of lightening...dogs too and even adults as well. The unexpected loud roar of the thunder and the downpour produced by colliding clouds...just has an uncanny ability to offset an even keeled comfort zone of peace....for any of us. But then there are those who can sleep right through a storm and not only be unbothered but actually find rain a soothing companion for rest. I am not that person! So how do you perceive storms? Life storms? Do you heed the advance notice and prepare... do you just work with it when it comes knocking....or do you huddle up in anxiousness and discomfort hoping someone will soon come to comfort you....or rescue you from the havoc that nature has wreaked?

The thing about storms is that they have a beginning and an end...not to say they do not leave remnants of where they have been! But storms also have a designated path...a path that has been allowed and created by God himself....for His purposes. Sometimes we find ourselves on the outskirts of one, sometimes in the dead middle... sometimes we know one is brewing while other times it comes upon us unexpected. But when they do come....We do seek shelter...and most times appreciate the comport and support of someone there to weather it with us. Jesus is always there....to be that someone...in calm times and in stormy weather. We can't see him as the disciples did...but he is right there in our boat...

Luke 8
Jesus Calms the Storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

You know there were a few storm stories in there....and Jesus calmed the winds and the waters just by the mere power of his word. What is it that we don't get about the importance of trusting Jesus in our everyday walk. It is not that we don't get it...we just let our priorities slide because we seemingly don't need it at this moment.....UNTIL a crisis is brewing. Why wait until we are in the boat to ask for guidance...Jesus will surely come then to rescue us and help in in His glorified way....but how much more settled and at peace we would be if only we had prepared ahead of time for the faith that we would need, the security that we would depend on and the foundation of truth in Him who empowers us.

Many of us have been in storms before whose winds of worry and the unknown have literally knocked us off of our feet...and we have lost all bearings. And we know the impact that comes with such storms....but what have we learned from going through them...hopefully that God is faithful.....and helped or is helping you this day to continue to "get" through it. When we go to Jesus and ask for His help...we can not always see it at the moment, though sometimes we can, but He is there...we have to believe in that wholeheartedly....and He will prevail.

There is power in the winds and in the rain...oh but there is power at our disposal that exceeds even that...it is the power of the Holy Spirit that resides within us. It is there....living in your heart....for all those who have come to believe....but we have to activate it with our faith. Kind of like those neon lights sticks or bracelets that glow in the dark...for them to be activated they have to be broken and then the light shines....and it is not a light of intensity rather a subtle light of color. So many times it is not until we need Christ and the provisions of his strength , power and wisdom that we call upon him. But why not "be ready" by asking now for his light to be activated before the storm hits. Let your light be shining before the storm comes so that you can be a beacon for those who are lost and need to find their way to him....through their storm.

Christ is the security that we can trust and hold on no matter how rough the waves of life get. He remains steady....and calm and confident...because He is God..our only hope of maintaining that aura of peace is through Him. Standing beside Him, trusting Him, following Him, holding fast to Him and faithfully allowing Him the pleasure and honor of taking care of us...For he loves us with all of his heart and yearns for our relationship with Him, in Him and through Him to outgrow an earthly love and submit to an eternal one.

The way I figure it with Bentley...is that she has now had practice weathering storms....and she is now at peace even in the midst of one....because she knows she is safe even thought the winds are howling, and the thunder is roaring...and the rains are coming down full force. She had the chance to escape into the house...but chose not to...for she had found comfort in the security of her own house.

The lesson for me in this: to also find comfort and security in the home of my heart ...where Christ abides...I may not see him but if I activate my faith and allow my security to fall upon Him and not my circumstances...I am confident that Christ will keep me in his watch no matter what is whirling about me....and guide me accordingly!

Dear Lord, Bless us as we encounter storms of all strengths. Help us to "be ready" and "get ready" for a storm before it hits by activating the Holy Spirit that is within us through our faith in your son Jesus. For there is where our true strength lies....and there is where the power to quiet the storms originates. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!