Spring Storms
I walk outside and feel the warmth of the sun on my back. The sun is so bright, I need my sunglasses. The grass, brown and dead only a few weeks ago, is green again, and growing. Trees and plants that lost their leaves and appeared dead are now showing signs of life. Small green buds are poking through brown branches. And the flowers! The flowers are starting to bloom. Patches of color are bursting through fields. It is a beautiful spring day.
But then it starts to rain a little. At first it is a pleasant sprinkle, freshening things up a bit. Then it starts to get a little heavier. It makes things start to look blurry as it’s coming down. It is steady, and it keeps coming. From a distance, you can see dark clouds rolling in. A storm is approaching. The sun will be hidden as the darkness edges in. There will be loud thunder, flashes of light, and strong winds. There may even be some hail beating down. The experts admit that there's no way to predict exactly what’s going to happen. This is bigger than they are. There are patterns for sure, but the weather is unpredictable. You need to be prepared. Seek shelter on solid ground.
I read a story about a strong storm that came up without warning. Some guys were in a boat out on a lake. It was a relaxing time apparently because One of them had fallen asleep in the boat. Suddenly, the winds and the waves were tormenting them. Their boat was nearly swamped. Their danger was real, and it was great. But even in the storm, One of them slept on. They woke Him up and asked Him if He even cared that they were going to drown! At once, He got up and rebuked the wind and waves. And the sea was calm. All was calm. He turned to them and asked if they had any faith. Still shaken, they were amazed that even the winds and water were under His command.
There’s another story about a storm in the Bible. There were two men, each building their homes. One built his house on the sand and the other on a rock foundation. Even if you’ve never heard this story, you know what happens next. A storm comes, wind and water beating down. The house on the sand comes down in a great crash, but the house on the rock stands. The storm was the same for both; the results were drastically different.
There is no doubt that there will be storms in this life. Sometimes we can see the sky getting darker and feel the wind change. Sometimes, it blows in suddenly. Either way it comes, we have to be prepared. We learn in moments like these where we find our shelter and how our house is built. When Jesus is our Shelter, we can know that He is with us throughout the storm. He is in control and will see us through when our faith is tested and shaken and when we think that we are going to drown. He gives us calm; He gives us rest. He reassures us of His presence. Seek Shelter on the Solid Rock.