Anchor in the Storm

I’m writing early this morning as I always do. We’ve been camping and last night there was a terrific thunder and lightening storm. We were cozy and warm in our camping trailer, but there were quite a few tent campers in the large wooded campground. It wasn’t a light storm, but heavy rain with all of the noise and light flashing for over an hour. The whole time, I thought about those poor campers. Were they huddled in their tents? Surely with the downpour no matter the protection, they must be soaked. I prayed for them while I watched a movie, munching on goodies, hoping they’d be all right.

This morning, I read about storms in scripture and read in the Psalms about sailors in a great storm and how fearful they were, and then with a voice, the sea was quiet:

Some went off to sea in ships,
    plying the trade routes of the world.
²⁴They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
    his impressive works on the deepest seas.
²⁵He spoke, and the winds rose,
    stirring up the waves.
²⁶Their ships were tossed to the heavens
    and plunged again to the depths;
    the sailors cringed in terror.
²⁷They reeled and staggered like drunkards
    and were at their wits’ end.
²⁸“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
²⁹He calmed the storm to a whisper
    and stilled the waves.
³⁰What a blessing was that stillness
    as he brought them safely into harbor!
³¹Let them praise the Lord for his great love (Psalms 107:23-31 NLT).

Back to my storm. At last the weather calmed down and it was quiet and we went to bed. I couldn’t get those tenters out of my mind. And then, the lightening came back, this time with hail! At last, after a furious hailstorm that seemed like forever, but probably was only a few minutes, it was quiet. And dark.

Just as those sailors were brought safely into the harbor, I felt safe after the storm here subsided.

It says in the above passage they were saved and were reminded to give praise for their rescue and safety. To praise the Lord for his great love.

I don’t know where you are right now. Are you in a storm you think may never stop? Do your circumstances cause you fear? Are you missing a loved one who has died? Or are you emotionally estranged from a loved one? Perhaps you don’t know what a medical test might reveal? Are your financial circumstances beyond repair? Do you need a job? Or are you just overwhelmed with our stormy society?

When I’m affected with circumstances beyond my control, I go to the God of everything. The maker of the universe–and the storms of uncertainty.

It’s calm this morning. Peaceful with no wind or rain. Just quiet. I am thankful. The storm seems to be over.

I’m releasing a book very soon that hopefully will give encouragement to those who are experiencing a storm–as we all do at some point in our life. I was influenced by Hebrews 6:19, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, in the writing of this book. We can trust that anchor.