Rain

When I was a little girl, I remember lying in bed at night, listening to the rain beat down on our tin roof. The wind would howl, the storm rage, but I was safe inside the upstairs bedroom I shared with my two sisters. My parents were downstairs, my brothers were in the bedroom next to ours, and I was safe. I loved rainy nights.

Now I am 23. I am a Mom to two kids. And I still love lying in bed at night and hearing the rain. My husband is next to me, my precious kiddos are in the room next to ours, and I feel safe.

We just recently moved to Illinois. We were greeted by several days of rain. I mean hard rain and lightening. The kind that keeps you up at night. But I didn't mind. In fact, I liked it!

While I was lying there, I couldn't help but see a parallel between my physical situation, safe in the house with my husband, and my spiritual situation, protected by God.

So often I try to run around and stay dry and untouched from the storms of life in my own strength, slapping up my own make-shift shelter when instead I should be taking shelter in God. Instead of worrying, trying to work out problems, and getting stressed out about all the little things in life, I need to rest in God, and let Him brave the storm that is swirling around me. I need to be still, and listen to the storm rage. I can be safe and content under my Father’s protection.

The storm doesn't change. Life's storms are very real, and sometimes they rage wildly. They can be very scary at times, and they can even threaten our physical life on earth. But they can never threaten our position in Christ!

What changes is me. I’m not trying to doge the raindrops anymore. I’m safe. Protected from the elements of life. I don’t have to weather the storm alone. God is always with me, sheltering me, providing a refuge for me, and promising me a home in heaven when my stormy life on this earth ends.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”