When the Storm Comes

There's a big storm moving up the Florida Coast. Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of Hurricane Matthew. Here in South Carolina, Matthew has been a big topic of conversation for several days. Residents along the coast have evacuated in advance of the storm's arrival; those who didn't evacuate have hunkered down. Similar scenarios are taking place in Georgia, and Florida is being hammered by the storm even as I type. We've been talking about this for several days now. Thinking about Hurricane Matthew has me thinking about all the storms that are part of life.

Storms are inevitable. As long as we are in this world, there will be storms to be faced. It isn't a matter of "if" there will be a storm, but "when".

Physical Storms

Certainly Hurricane Matthew fits into this category. Even as we in South Carolina have been preparing for the possibility of a direct hit from this very strong storm, I am reminded that at this time last year we were under water because of thunderstorms and flooding. Physical storms take various forms: tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, Nor'easters, blizzards, floods, earthquakes. We have all experienced physical storms in one form or another.

Political Storms

Currently we are in the midst of an election season. This is a particularly rancorous election season, in part thanks to social media. Everywhere we turn, we are bombarded with information, insults, and innuendo. Just as Hurricane Matthew is even now battering the Florida coast, we are being battered day after day with tweets and posts and opinions that overwhelm us. Being able to stand firm through this barrage of information is a challenge indeed.

Personal Storms

Day after day each of us face challenges in our personal lives. Illness. Bereavement. Depression. Job stress. Accidents. Financial stress. All sorts of challenges are part of our daily lives and are often as difficult to deal with as the physical storms. We often struggle to hold our heads above water as we try to navigate life on a daily basis.

We need an Anchor.

What do we do when the storms come? And they will come! How do we cope? I've been thinking about that a lot since I first heard of the destructive nature of Hurricane Mathew. Because my faith informs how I think about things, I have found answers to the what do we do? question in the pages of Scripture.

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in You."  (Psalm 56:3 ESV)

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving."  (Colossians 4:2 NASB)   

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)  Note that it doesn't say give thanks "for" all circumstances, but give thanks "in" all circumstances!

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus."  (Hebrews 12:2 NASB)

"Be still and know that I am God."  (Psalm 46:10 ESV)

Whatever storm may be coming your way today, your "shelter" is the same: keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the storm!

For further reading on this subject, look for the book When Storms Come: Will You Be Ready? by my friend Kristin P. Snyder. You'll be glad you did!

 

"The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide,

A Shelter in the time of storm;

Secure whatever ill betide,

A Shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A weary land, a weary land;

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,

A Shelter in the time of storm."

(words:Vernon A. Charlesworth; music: Ira Sankey)