It’s been an unusually violent season; oh yeah, hurricane season too. Are you enduring the storms of life? Take shelter because you can’t stop the wind.
Palm trees stooped at the waist and swept the ground with their fronds. Non-stop water cascaded from the dark skies. Relentless power destroyed houses built with straw, sticks and bricks. As I watched the video, I wondered what poor cameraman had the unfortunate assignment of traveling to a tropical island to watch its utter devastation. Who wants a front row seat to that? The commentator’s flat voice broadcast, “They are urging people to shelter in place.”
Shelter in place, good idea…
But me, I’m over here waving my arms wildly in the air and yelling until I’m hoarse. No one hears my raspy voice over the deafening roar of destruction. Trying to secure the pieces of my splintered world blowing across my life is exhausting and futile. Wind never did much for my hair either. But I can’t stop the wind. The storm keeps raging.
It's foolish to try to stop the wind #GodIsInControl #Shelter Click To TweetThis is stupid
Who can stop the wind? When sirens wail, get out of the storm and rest in the shelter of His wings. He invites us to a safe place where the walls are made of reinforced steel, protected from the danger of flying debris. But sometimes I don’t want safe, I want control. So I try to stop the wind.
My silly disaster plan is to take shelter after I get everything anchored down, but it’s too late. Way too late. I have no idea what tomorrow brings. Neither do you. All I know is the bottom can fall out at any minute.
I have peace because God is not surprised
God knows. He knows the unexpected things on tomorrow’s unwritten calendar. He knows the heartbreaks, disappointments, failures and pain. They were all on His calendar before one day was printed.
And He urges us, “Shelter in place.”
Harm’s way
In a fit of frustration, I exercised my option to phone a friend. We live in tornado alley. She possesses a rare spontaneous wisdom tinged with wit and replied,
“It’s like a tornado… you go to the safe room and wait. You don’t go outside and try to stop the wind.”
No, no you don’t. You go to shelter.
If you need shelter from your own storm, write down these truths. Repeat them out loud and memorize at least one. When you hear the sirens wail, you’ll know where to go.
God’s word is my shield
Psalm 119:114, “You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in Your word.” HCSB
God is my personal guard
Psalm 121:5, “The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side.” HCSB
God is enough
Psalm 142:5, “I cry to You, Lord; I say, ‘You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.'” HCSB
God is safe
Psalm 91:2-4 “Say this: ‘God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!’ That’s right – he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you – under them you’re perfectly safe.” MSG
