We have just experienced the first thunderstorm of the
spring season. The flashes of lightning and booms of thunder began around 11
PM. From that point on my sleep was interrupted for the rest of the night and
into the morning. Amid the thunder and lightning came the howls and whines of
our precious ‘scaredy’ dog, Kari. Even with her thundershirt on, Kari paced and
made strange guttural noises that only occur only when she hears thunder.
In order to allow my husband to sleep, I spent the
night in the den with my two dogs. David had a long day at work ahead of him,
but I had the morning free to catch up on sleep if weather allowed. (It didn’t.)
The radar showed that we would be in for several short-term storms for a 12 to
15 hour. And so went my sleep. Short spurts were interrupted by attempts to
console an inconsolable dog.
At times during the night, especially when the storms
had not stopped by morning, my tired body began to wonder if I would ever sleep
again. Of course I knew that the storms would pass and that many uninterrupted
nights of sleep were ahead for both my dogs and myself. But in the midst of holding
and whispering, “It’s okay, Kari,” my overtired mind and body were not able to
see that future repose.
Do you ever feel that way when you are in the midst of
one of life’s storms? We cry out to God for deliverance and He answers. It
seems the answer comes in pieces and one trial after another occurs before we
can even enjoy the peace of the initial deliverance. During these times of
repeated hardships it may seem that complete rest in God will not come. We must
not forget His great promises. “For You have been a stronghold for
the poor, a stronghold for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm,
a shade from the heat; for the blast of the ruthless ones is like a rainstorm
against a wall.” (Isaiah 25:4 AMP) We have that shelter.
The difficult thing with Kari’s behavior, was that she
kept wanting to go out the back door and into the storm. Our den, which is on
the lowest level of our home, was the safest place to be. Kari just wanted to
escape the noise of the storm. Led by that desire to escape, she was actually attempting
to run right into the worst of it.
Much of what we experience during the trials of life
appear worse than they actually are. When we trust in Almighty God we have a
great promise. “Because
you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
there shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9-10 AMP) This does not mean that there will be no battles to
fight. Often the sound of impending trouble is louder and farther away than we
realize. Resting in the presence of God is the safest place for us to be.
Attempting to run out and solve our problems in our own strength, is like Kari
running out into the violent downpour. Even though we feel we must do something
to improve our situation, we are actually leaving the safety of God’s will to
run headlong into the storm. This is never good.
The best
plan of action is to enter and stay in God’s rest. “For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the
weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors
peculiarly His own.” (Hebrews 4:10 AMP)
In this place we can allow this storm to rage outside and yet sleep peacefully.
Fully trusting God we have this promise. “When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down,
and your sleep shall be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24 AMP) Then we can say, “In peace I will both lie down and
sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.” (Psalm
4:8 AMP)
If these promises are not enough to calm the anxious
spirit, the Scripture provides even more. “GOD IS our Refuge and Strength
[mighty and impenetrable to
temptation], a very present and
well-proved help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth
should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the
seas, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its
swelling and tumult. Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]!” (Psalm 46:1-3 AMP) Remembering
these we can say, “I
lay down and slept; I wakened again, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be
afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round
about.” (Psalm 3:5-6 AMP)
If a storm is currently interrupting the peace and rest in your life,
remember that many full night’s sleep are still ahead. The storms do not
continually rage. And even when they do we can rest in God’s promises.
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