Rain, Rain, Go Away!

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Mark 4:37

Rain! Rain! Rain! This morning I awoke to pounding rain, lightning, and thunder, accompanied by tornado and flash flood warnings! Yikes! It was still dark, and even with the occasional flashes of light to illuminate the sky, I wondered how I would ever see a funnel cloud approaching! While I like thunderstorms, I am not a fan of flash floods or tornadoes, so I kept an eye on the weather reports.

Sometimes troubles come into our lives, and they are just like storms. They can be scary just like a tornado warning, even to the point where you desperately seek refuge from them. Many years ago, I experienced a health crisis in my life. I definitely was overwhelmed, scared, and needed reassurance that all would be fine. It was hard to believe things would eventually be back to normal, but I had the support of my family and dearest friends to encourage me . However, now when I look back, I can see from whom I drew my greatest support.

God was and is always with me. Once I became a Christian, I became a recipient of all of God’s promises, including this one. Psalm 46:1 records that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” and He has shown Himself faithful to this promise throughout the Bible.

• God was there when the Israelites had no way to escape the Egyptian army.
  • “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21
• God was there when Daniel was thrown into a den of lions.
  • “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
• God was there to help the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during a violent storm.
  • “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
• God was there when Peter was in prison.
  • “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” Acts 12:11

To know that I will always be held firmly in the hand of God is what reassures me in times of trouble. There is nothing that can happen that my God cannot handle. The Bible tells me “…with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Because of this assurance, I can say, like the Psalmist, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise
They don’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me and naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God

(from “Sheltered in the Arms of God” by Dottie Rambo)

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat…” Isaiah 25:4

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The God of the storm is also the God of the rainbow!