Tripping Over Typeset

I hear the distance thunder drawing near and know the storm is coming.

I can’t stop it from coming I can only prepare for the onset.

Windows are shut and patio cushions are brought in.

The sky is growing darker and the storm’s nearness is haunting. There’s nothing to do but wait for it to unfurl.

The clouds burst open and pour out. The wind whips up its fury and trees are tossed to and fro. The rain pelts against the window and water streams down. It shouts at me… “Let me in!”  Yet I am held safe by the Keeper of my soul. The thunderclouds of emotions and circumstances hurl toward us. We watch as they come closer. Our own eyes burst just like the rain clouds. This storm whirls around me and there’s no way to stop it. I can’t run and I can’t make it go away.

Yet I am safe in the Shelter He provides. I hide in the Shelter knowing He’s the only safe place.

There’s peace inside the Shelter. He calms our soul in the middle of the storm.

There will be clean up after this all passes. Branches will be broken and limbs will have to be picked up and gathered.

Yet we will make it.

We will live through this beating of a storm. The rain will slow and the wind will calm down.

Right now in the midst of the blowing, the tossing and all hell breaking loose it feels overwhelming but calm will come. His peace will come. He comes in the storm. He always comes near.

In this life, there are storms.

Storms can be that ugly word ‘cancer’. They can come in torrents of grief and loss.  Storms take different forms.

We can’t run from the storm or change its direction. Instead we live through it. As ugly and unpleasant as that sounds. We weather through.

We are different when it’s over. Storms change us.

We do not come out unscathed. We can be broken and there can be damage. Yet we will survive. We will be stronger. We will love deeper and hold others closer. We will know His faithfulness more and see His hand working.

This storm won’t beat us. It won’t defeat us. Instead we find our refuge in His peace, in His strength and in His Truth.

There is a refuge. There is a peace. He is our refuge. He is our Peace. This storm will pass. We will make it through.

We survive by taking shelter in His provided refuge.

• We take shelter in the Truth of His Word.
• We find shelter in the Promise of His Spirit with us.
• We find strength in the Power of Him who works all things for our good.

We can’t beat back this storm or make it go away. Instead we weather through. We make it through by taking refuge in Him.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” ~Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)

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