Til the storm passes over,
Til the thunder sounds
no more,
Til the clouds roll forever
from the sky,
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of your hand;
Keep me safe
til the storm passes by.
The thunder and lightning clashed and flashed concurrently last night. The storm was almost directly overhead. It was dark, well after midnight. The wind raged through the trees. But I was not afraid as I lay in my bed, under the warm covers remembering the words of this Mosie Lister hymn.
The Bible often uses familiar terms to describe God’s power at work in love for our joy. “The arm of the LORD is not shortened that it cannot save,” we read. With the words “Underneath are the everlasting arms,” God encourages us. God is spirit and has no arms or legs, but these anthropomorphisms (descriptions of God in physical, human terms) help us understand how God manifests his wisdom, power, and love in our lives.
He uses his power to keep us safe in the storms of life, giving us confidence in his love and eternal plan for us. He who orchestrates the storm and is impervious to its effects, causes us to believe in him and trust him for his care and action on our behalf.
Isaiah the prophet extolled the virtues of God’s loving and tender care. “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” (Isaiah 25:4, ESV).
The storms do rage. Sometimes, they are physical, external storms, like the ones that have passed through our area recently. Other storms are deeply personal, internal hurricanes that threaten the peace of heart. Sometimes, as on one occasion when Jesus was in a boat with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee, God calms the storm. Other times he calms us.
God does not always protect us from distressing conditions. He does not always protect us from an emotional response to distress, but when our faith is in Jesus Christ, God always protects his children from eternal death, from hell, and most immediately, from the need to fear.
When we have a relationship with God through faith in his Son, Jesus, we have nothing to fear.
Our eternal destiny is secure. Life lived in faith in Christ becomes a schoolroom for the soul, preparing us to live forever in the glorious presence of God himself. Storms, mild or furious, expected or sudden, become pop quizzes posing one question, “Will you trust Me?”
God calls us to peace in the storms of life because he remains in control both of the storm and of our destiny. His goodness and love are ever directed to us through Jesus. Anyone who puts their faith and trust in Christ may have God’s peace.
That’s the Good News.
Pastor Dale McIntire has served as pastor of the Cornerstone Community Church in Grand Marais since April 1995.
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