A couple of years ago, when our wiener-dog Boomer was just a puppy, I was home one afternoon during a thunderstorm. I heard Boomer in his room whining and realized he was afraid of the thunder he was hearing. I went in and picked him up and took him out on our screened porch with me to help him get over his fear. At first he sat in my lap, pressed up against me, and whimpered. After a bit, he got quiet, then he got down out of my lap. However, he stayed right under my chair, at first. Gradually, he began to venture over to the screen and watch the rain and the lightening. Soon he was perfectly fine as the storm continued. Never again have I heard him whine during a storm. I had a God moment while this was happening and thought about the way He helps us learn to pass through storms. As I held Boomer in that storm, these words King David wrote came to my mind:
Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness. (Psalm 57:1-3)
David wrote these words during a storm in his life. He was on the run from King Saul, who was trying to kill him; and he was hiding in a cave. You might be fighting through a storm right now, and you might feel like the disciples did when Jesus was asleep during their storm… “Jesus, don’t you care that we are going to perish?” Let me assure you, He does care; and you’re not going to perish. He needed disciples that learned to weather storms so that they could carry on after He ascended back to Heaven. Think of Peter and John in Acts 4 as they stood before the High Priest and Sadducees and boldly spoke about Jesus fearlessly. Today, he needs followers like you and me to learn to weather storms; so if you are in a doozie right now, learn to hide under His mighty wings and stay the course.
Scott Krippayne wrote a beautiful song a few years ago called, “Sometimes He Calms the Storm.” I’ll leave you with his lyrics:
(Verse 1)
All who sail the sea of faith Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing That our Lord is in control
(Chorus)
Sometimes He calms the storm With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm And other times He calms His child
(Verse 2)
He has a reason for each trial That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always Be a quiet peaceful place