Grace in the Storm You Didn’t See Comin’
Well, sakes alive, friend, I’m real glad you came wanderin’ on up here on this ol’ front porch for a little ol’ visit today. I was just watching a determined little ol’ raccoon that was draggin’ a whole slice of cornbread across my backyard like it was haulin’ gold bars to a secret hideout, and I thought, “Now that there lil’ ol’ critter plum knows somethin’ about surviving storms.” It didn’t do no panicin’. It didn’t quit. It just kept right on tuggin’ that cornbread like its whole future depended on it. And right then I knew that we could be learnin’ a thing or two from a lil’ creature that small. Which brings us to Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
Life’s storms come at us the way a cranky ol’ rooster comes chargin’ with his spurs when you git to steppin’ a lil’ bit too close to his hens. Real sudden like. Real loud. Feathers flyin’ everywhere. Storms of grief, sickness, broken relationships, and financial strain can git to makin’ us feel like we’re standin’ in the middle of a field with no shelter in sight. But Psalm 103:19 reminds us that the Lord has established His throne in Heaven and His kingdom rules over all. Nothing in your storm ever surprises Him. Absolutely nothing is outside His reach.
When everything feels plum upside down, you gotta be rememberin’ Joseph in Genesis 50:20. His life looked like one disaster after another, yet God was weavin’ His goodness through every single thread. And when hope gets to feelin’ mighty thin, you gotta be clingin’ to Hebrews 13:5, where God promises He will never leave you or forsake you. Even when the wind gits to howlin’ and the waves git to risin’, He’s right there in the boat with you just like in Mark 4:39 when Jesus calmed the storm with a simple command.
Now, then, friend, when fear gits to tryin’ to take over, you gotta be fixin’ your eyes on Jesus the way Peter did in Matthew 14:29. The moment Peter looked at the waves instead of the Savior, he sank. But when he looked back at Jesus, he stood. And when you git to feelin’ weak, remember 2 Corinthians 12:9. God’s strength shines brightest when you feel like you have none left at all. And here is a fresh reminder from Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” That there verse fits storms like a warm quilt fits a real cold night.
And here’s something we often forget. No one was ever meant to be havin’ to walk through life’s storms alone. The Bible speaks often about the importance of the community of believers. Lean on your church family. Reach out to trusted Christian friends who will pray for you, encourage you, and walk with you through your storm. And when you see someone else strugglin’, offer ‘em the same kind of love you’ve received. Paul experienced this in Philippians 1:19 when the prayers of fellow believers strengthened him in prison. Community is one of God’s greatest gifts in a storm.
Father, I need You in every storm. Hold me steady when life shakes me. Give me peace when fear rises and strength when I feel weak. Surround me with people who point me back to You, and help me be that kind of friend to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Alright, now, friend, tuck this real good truth way down deep in your heart before you step back into the world’s expectations for your day. Storms may git to roarin’ like a big ol’ bear stompin’ through the bushes, but they can’t drown out the voice of the One who speaks real peace. Troubles may git to pilin’ up like hay bales before a storm, yet God’s presence stands a whole lot taller than every ol’ stack of hay. When life shakes you real hard, let your roots grow deeper instead of your fears growin’ louder. And when the winds git to howlin’, lift your chin up and remember that the same God who commands the thunder and lightnin’ also holds you real gently right in the palms of His mighty hands.
With joy,
Gwen
