God Is Your Shelter in the Storm

My face was flushed and sticky with fresh tears. The last 48 hours were a blur, but one thing was for sure. There was no way I could get through this without the Lord. I lay in bed trying to sleep, but was plagued with nightmares of the previous two days. My husband’s death had been sudden; he was gone in an instant. I struggled to catch my breath, desperately wanting it all to have been a dream.

But in those moments of despair, I cried out to the Lord with fresh tears streaming down my face. “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but I know there is no way I can make it without You. Please help me.” When the tears slowed, I finally fell asleep, and for a moment, there was peace.

When we go through the most difficult seasons in life, we tend to want to turn away from everyone and hide our genuine emotions. We want to pretend we are okay because vulnerability is uncomfortable. However, the truth is that vulnerability often unlocks the door to healing. Being vulnerable with the Lord is usually what we need to grasp faith in the midst of the storm.

Nahum 1:7 (NLT) says,

The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. 

In the arms of our heavenly Father is the safest place to be, especially when our hearts are broken. God is a strong refuge in the midst of life’s storms. He often doesn’t take the storm away entirely, but He provides solace and rest while the storm rages around us. 

Psalm 62:8 says,

O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Think of it this way: When you go for a walk and forget your umbrella and it starts to pour down rain, you pick up your pace and try to reach home as quickly as possible because you know there is a set of dry clothes, warmth, and even a nice hot beverage waiting for you. In life’s storms, we have a choice to run to the Lord to seek refuge or stand there in the middle of the storm and let it overtake us. Storms are, by nature, unavoidable. Our goal is not to avoid the storm, but instead to seek refuge in the midst of it.

Consider Psalm 91:4:

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Not only can we find refuge and rest in who He is, but his faithfulness and His promises equip, protect, and steady our feet during life’s storms.

The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

The disciples were in a boat in the middle of a storm. When Jesus approached them, walking on the water, they were afraid. I can imagine they were panicking and didn’t know what to do. They were likely overwhelmed. Have you felt like that? I know I have. Jesus spoke to them at once, saying, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am here.” (See Matthew 14:24-27)

That is what I want to say to you today, friends. No matter the storm you are walking through, you can find refuge in Jesus. Don’t be afraid. Take courage. He is here.

~

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.