Have you ever been in a heavy storm? Have you been on the road when a torrential downpour hit? Have you driven through a blinding snowstorm, a virtual whiteout? Have you experienced fog so thick you couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of you?
It can be near impossible to navigate through a downpour, heavy snowfall, and thick fog, whether in a vehicle or on foot. We prefer not to be out in such storms. We would rather be in our homes, or inside somewhere. To be caught out in a severe storm can be deadly.
But what happens when we get caught up in the storms of life? We may have storms of financial hardship, severe illness, a family death, or a broken relationship. These storms can be even more difficult to navigate. They take away our sense of well-being. We experience high amounts of stress, which can result in depression, frustration, anger, and a sense of helplessness. Where do we turn?
The Psalmist says those of us who trust in God will find rest. When we trust in God, we weather the storm, retaining our peace and joy. This doesn’t mean the storm immediately disappears nor that weathering it is easy. It does mean that our trust in God, asking for and following his guidance will guide us through the storm.
Our difficulty is in trusting God. We want to believe we are in control of our lives. We want to believe we can gut it out, find our own way, and persevere without assistance. Yet, trusting God to guide us through it relieves us the feeling of being all alone. It doesn’t mean we don’t need to act. It means we act based on God’s guidance and feel his peace within us.
I pray we all trust in God every day. I pray we ask for and follow God’s guidance in the storms of life. I pray each one of us experience the peace of God, taking refuge in him. Trust God each day. Ask for God’s guidance. Follow God’s guidance. Experience God’s peace. Take refuge in God.
Psalm 91:1-2
You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,,*
will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”
Marty Pressey 