Storms

Storms reveal a lot about a child…and us.

When our daughters were small, my bride and I would pray that they were in a deep sleep whenever a storm passed through at night. Otherwise we knew it would be a long night. I vividly remember one storm that seemingly passed through our neighborhood …and stopped over our home. Thunder rolled loudly almost as an afterthought to the buckets of water that poured down.

Eventually the thunder woke up our middle daughter, Abi. Now in all honesty, this wouldn’t be bad… if she wasn’t so quiet. On this night, as Jen and I were asleep, I suddenly sensed a presence that was very, very close to my face ….and it was not the Holy Spirit. When I opened my eyes, my precious daughter was only a couple of inches away from my eyes. “DAAAD-DYYYYY” she whispered loudly.  I don’t care who it is, at 3:00AM, anyone that close, whispering loudly, will freak you out!

After Jen completed CPR on me, I asked; “What’s wrong sweetie?” “Mommy, Daddy, I’m scared! Can I get in bed with you?!” she nervously shared. Of course my response was loving; “Honey, sure… After you sit on the back porch for an hour or two so you can face your fear of storms!”
Well, maybe not.  

We pulled her up in bed between us, held onto her for a little while, talked to her quietly and lovingly, then carried her back to her room.  Then after a few more hugs, we assured her that everything would be ok, and then we prayed with her. Before we left her room, we sang an old Steve Green children’s song together that each of our daughters loved; “When I am afraid, I will trust in You!”  (Psalm 56:3)
…And… the storm passed.

In the midst of the biggest struggles I have faced, there have been moments where the child in me would still love to hear my mom and dad’s voice tell me, “It’s going to be ok…it’s going to be ok!”
More than likely, you and I are no different in this.
But the wonderful truth is that we have a Heavenly Father…
…who is always ready to embrace us, who won’t freak out when we approach Him no matter what the storm or struggle is and no matter what time of day or night we come to Him.
He is that hiding place your heart longs for, that protection from the storms you are now facing and will face again. He is the voice that can and will always let you know, “It’s going to be ok…it’s going to be ok!” And He means it!

In God’s Word, King David said it so perfectly; “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7)

Whatever storms you are facing right now, know that Your Heavenly Father is ready and waiting for you to curl up in His arms and pray (or even sing as David did) …When I am afraid, I will trust in you, in God whose Word I praise!

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