By Cyndi
Good ol’ Florida. Once again we’re getting pounded by a summer afternoon thunderstorm. The sky darkens all around, the rumbles roll in stereo through the air, and rain gets fiercely dumped onto the already waterlogged lawns. Cracks of lightening shudder the house at times while my cat anxiously hides in a chair trying to sleep.
Listening to the downpour outside, God gently reminds me that this will all be over soon. You see, usually within thirty minutes or less this storm line will pass over us. The thunder will fade into the distance, the rain will slack off, then the sun will come back out from behind the clouds and cause a layer of steam to rise from the roads. This is the normal, seasonal pattern of summer afternoons in Florida. Storms come and they go.
Such is the pattern of life also: storms come and they go. They darken our lives, wreck havoc on our emotions, and sometimes actually cause real damage — but they eventually pass.
On the Bible Study Tools website I did a search for “and it came to pass” and it came up with 446 results. Wow! I think we can soundly say that nothing stays the same. And this world-wide storm we’re all in right now will eventually pass. Obviously not as quickly as an afternoon thundershower, but sooner or later it, too, will pass and be gone.
So what do we do while we’re waiting for it to pass?
One of my favorite words that David used to describe God in the Psalms was “fortress.” Here are a few examples:
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- Ps. 91:2—I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him will I trust.
- Ps.144:2—My goodness, and my fortress: my hight tower and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I trust.
- Ps. 31:3—For thou art my rock and my fortress: therefore for thy name’s sake lead me and guide me.
A fortress is a place of “exceptional security.” We can hide in His love and rest knowing He will guide and direct us, keep us safe, and give us peace in the midst of whatever storms come our way. Whether it’s a medical, physical, emotional, or spiritual attack, He’s our stronghold, our high tower.
Again God reminded me that just like I can sit in my own home with a raging bombardment of lightening and thundering all around me — even knocking out my “power” at times — I can reside totally unharmed and untouched by this disturbance. My fortress (my abode, the place where I live) keeps me safe and dry during it all. (Jn.15:7; 1Jn.4:16)
So, my dear reader, take refuge in our Fortress as these storms pass us by. Build walls of scriptures around you, encompass yourself with bricks of worship, and soak your atmosphere with His presence. Remove any fiery darts of media that try to attack your mind and instead rest and trust in our faithful Father. Abide in Him. There is no storm that will ever be able to tear down our High Tower. The deluge will come and go, but He will always stand strong.
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(Here’s a great song by Hillsong to keep in your heart during this time.)