Shelter In The Storm
Having entered another hurricane season, with this intense heat provoking a recipe for increased possibilities, I have been pondering hurricane Ida. It was the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. in recorded history - a category 5.
Due to circumstantial dictates, and much prayer for wisdom, I was privileged to have a front-row seat.
Peering through the large picture window in the living room was reminiscent of viewing massive sea creatures from the safe observatory of an aquarium with only a glass curtain separating its touch.
It was one of the most incredible natural events I have ever witnessed, even storms have their beauty. Its power exceeded human words - it was beyond description. While my heart and mind were filled with wonder, Father's presence brought a sustaining immersion of peace.
Engulfed in Him, I caught a tiny glimpse of reality. The Truth of how Ida's enormous size and strength utterly paled in comparison to the One Who has created all things, the earth being only a footstool.
Ida's tumultuous dance of devastation, even in her most climatic throws, could with great ease be contained in a thimble compared to the Magnitude, Power, and Majesty of the One True God, Creator-Maker of heaven and earth.
Another reality is that this life comes with storms; some are mild, and others may feel like Jonah's cruise ship to Tarshish when he tried to avoid Ninevah, facing the perils of loss and the danger of death.
Amid storms, if we keep our heart and focus on the Lord God, gazing on His power, and majesty, we begin to realize compared to Him, everything is dust a mere vapor in the light of Him, including the circumstances causing our storm.
Like gazing safely through an impenetrable window, He surrounds us with a transparent shield; we can stand in Him, peering through at our storm, knowing He is protecting us not from but through every trial. His Truth and faithfulness are a shield; we can be saturated in His peace and calm no matter what rages around us.
Below are scripture references listed for your convenience to meditate on.
Revelations
4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
5:13 "And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
9:11 "After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"
2 Samuel
22:3 "The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn[a] of my salvation; My stronghold and my refuge;My Savior, You save me from violence"
22:31 "As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
Philipians 4:7
"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Ephesians 3:19
"to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Jonah Chapter 1
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up.
Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep.
So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.”
And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has comeupon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, “Please tell us! For whose cause is this trouble upon us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”
Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.
Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
(Even in our rebellion the Lord's Love and mercy provides for us.