Spring is in the Air
You may have heard the phrase, “April Showers bring May flowers.” I love Spring, but as a child the sound of rolling thunder and lightning scared me. On one particular stormy night, the skies exploded with a spectacular light show and thunder shook the windows of our home. I raced to my parent’s room, knocking over a few items on the way. My dad flew out of bed in a flash, poised to take on an intruder. What he saw was a blonde-headed little girl shaking with tear-filled eyes. My sleepy-eyed mom joined us and walked me back to my room. She had me kneel on my bed with my arms poised on the windowsill. Together, we watched the storm roll in.
As I watched out the window, she claimed God was watering His plants and flowers. He used the lightening to show Him the way and the thunder to awaken His sleeping creation. Her depiction of the storm and the Great Almighty God brought peace to my little-girl heart. That experience changed my attitude towards storms forever.
Storms that strike fear in our hearts can be eradicated by the living water of Jesus. When storms cause us to tremble and fear, the Holy Spirit whispers “Be still,” reminding us to trust in the God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. “Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life-a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 AMP).
The word fear stated in the above scripture is no longer connected to the storms in my life. Instead, it is a respect and reverence for the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7 KJV).
As I look at all the different characters in Scripture who had storms in their lives, I also notice their reverence for God:
– Abraham, who had no child until age 100, feared God: “Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying . . .”(Geneses 17:3 ESV).
– Moses, who led a grumbling and disbelieving horde of people across the Red Sea, feared God: “Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces {showing respect and reverence} in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel” (Numbers 14:5 ESV).
– Anna, who lived as a widow until age 84, revered the Lord: “Anna . . . never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer” (Luke 2:37 NLT).
– David ran from his enemies, yet knew and trusted God: “The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 NKJV).
– The disciples left their family fishing business to follow Jesus.
– Rahab risked her life out of reverence for God.
– Esther, who as a young girl, was taken from her family and saved her people from destruction.
There are many more people in Scripture who had storms in their lives but also feared the Lord and believed in Him.
David’s Psalm 23:4 reminds us to lift our eyes up to God when we are going through a storm. “Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley, of the shadow of death, I will fear no dread or evil” (AMP). When we are walking in the valley of our storms, there are mountaintops on either side of us. We should not walk with our heads down in defeat, but keep our eyes on the mountaintops where hope and freedom reign. “I will lift my eyes to the mountains–where does my hope come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1 NIV).
God took Elijah to a valley called Cherith where nothing could be cultivated to eat, and sat beside a brook with small stream of water. There Elijah depended totally upon the Lord to minister to Him. Did Elijah want to be there? I doubt it, but he knew God had a plan to prepare him for the next step Elijah was to take. It is in these very valleys of our lives where we grow and learn. In the midst of a storm when thunder shakes us and lightening illuminates our problems, we are reminded of (Psalm 50:1- 3 TPT), “The God of gods, the mighty Lord himself, has spoken! He shouts out over all the people of earth in every brilliant sunrise and every beautiful sunset, saying, ‘Listen to me!’ God’s glory-light shines out of the Zion-realm with the radiance of perfect beauty. With the rumble of thunder he approaches; he will not be silent, for he comes with an ever splitting sound.” Therefore in times like these, we are instructed to worship and praise Him no matter how difficult it might be. “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him” (Psalm 95:6-7; 2-4 NIV). As we praise and give thanksgiving to Him, we have His assurance that all will be well because of His promises to us. Romans 8:28. “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV). After the storm, there is always a stillness. Peace comes, and the Holy Spirit cleanses our souls. We are able to walk out of the valley purified.
Let’s pray:
Oh Lord, You hold everything in your hand. You knew before we were born the storms that would roll into our lives. Yet Lord, You prepared the way for me long before we were created in the darkness of the womb. Lord, I praise You that I am Your daughter and no matter what storms come my way, I can trust that not only will You hold my hand as I go through the storms, but You also have a better plan for me. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121:1KJV). Thank You for your goodness and faithfulness towards me. Amen.
