God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46: 10-11
As we Midwesterners think about the storms in our lives, we may conjure up thoughts or images of severe weather—especially this time of year. Lightning, thunder, floods, hail, and high winds frequently threaten destruction to our crops, property, or sometimes, our lives. We often take assurance from the idea that we can and will be able to recover from these misfortunes by rationalizing, “After all, we do have insurance, right?” What happens to us when we face storms and damages that are not necessarily alleviated by this monetary safety net? We often reach out to those displaced by natural disasters through financial relief efforts, but how do we muster the spiritual strength to bounce back from deeper storms and scars left by physical injuries, debilitating diseases, broken relationships, or even loss of loved ones? It is tempting to believe that we have protected ourselves from harm by covering our financial bases, but the Lord is truly the one we must rely on.
Prayer: Creator God, in the quiet stillness of this hour and in the midst of life’s storms, help us to find comfort in laying down our concerns and troubles before you. We humbly ask for your help to strengthen us and give us hope as we navigate each day. Thank you for the knowledge and assurance that you are always with us. Amen.
Barry and Alinda Stelk (reprinted from 2018)
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