Still thinking about storms........

I was just telling my friend Donna, from Bermuda, that we have tornado season here in Michigan. She looked at me like I had a hole in my head....or like I was trying to pull a fast one on her! "No, seriously" I said, "we do have tornado season here." And I went on to explain the tornado warning/watch system, the tornado siren and what to do when it goes off. Which led me to thinking about "Lydia's tips for staying safe during a storm"

1. Find a secure spot to ride out the storm. A couple of years ago I was walking on the Clinton River Trail when a thunderstorm suddenly blew in. I was 1/2 way between the place where my car was parked and Dodge Park - basically, a mile and a half from either one - and there was nothing but the river, the path, a lot of very large trees and me. It was (quite literally) a hair raising experience. Lightening was striking so close and the static in the air was so strong, the hair on my arms and on the back of my neck was standing straight up. I remember thinking "Oh seriously, this is SO stupid! I am going to be the first person to die on the Clinton River Trail by being struck by lightening!" OK, so I made it out alive, but I have a new appreciation for the fact that, when a storm hits, you need to find a secure spot, most preferably a basement, away from windows and walls. The house above you may blow away, but the basement is not going to move.


2. Hang in there, persevere, endure, wait out the storm - it WILL end. Whether it's a tornado, a line of thunderstorms or a hurricane - you don't leave the shelter until the all clear sounds. It may seem like the storm is over, but it might just be a lull, and then it comes roaring back. So you hunker down, be patient, and eventually the storm will pass.


3. OK, this one is not so much a necessity, but it definitely makes things a whole lot better: ride the storm out with some friends or loved ones. It might not always be possible, but what a difference it makes to be hunkered down with some friends; somehow, things are just not as scary, the time seems shorter, and the storm not quite so bad when you are with others.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog where I talked about the 'storms' that come into our lives: health storms, financial storms, emotional storms, relational storms, even storms in our churches and ministries. As I looked at my tips for staying safe in a storm, it occurred to me that the tips also apply to these 'storms' that come into our lives:

1. Find a secure spot - The Psalms are full of references to God being our 'rock' and our 'refuge'. For instance, in Psalm 18:1-2, David (who endured a whole lot of storms in his lifetime) says: "I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." There is no more secure place than hiding in the One who can never be moved!
2. Persevere through the storm - Another Bible character who had more than his fair share of storms was the Apostle Paul (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-28). In 2 Timothy 2:3 and 4:5, Paul encourages Timothy to "endure hardship". There are many other passages in the Bible that talk about the need to persevere, to endure. The familiar quote notes that God can "calm the storm or calm us in the storm." Either way, we can persevere because we know that He is in control, that the storm is not going to be an ounce stronger or last a second longer than what He allows. Someone once said that their favorite phrase in the Bible is "and it came to pass" - it didn't come to stay, but it came to pass. OK, not good hermeneutics, but the point is valid - hang in there because storms don't last forever; whatever it is, it will pass in His good time; if not here, then in eternity.
3. Ride out the storm with some friends - In Hebrews 10:22-25 we find a lot of instructions about what we should be doing and how we should be living. What is interesting is how many times the author uses the word "us": let us draw near to God, let us hold unswervingly to the faith we profess, let us consider how we may spur each other on to love and good deeds. let us not give up meeting together, let us encourage each other. Sure, we can ride out the storms alone, but how much better it is to have friends who will come alongside us and go through the storm with us. I am blessed to have some friends like that; friends who, over the last few years, have not been afraid to stick beside me through the storms and who have encouraged me and prayed for me, who have sat by me and waited until the storm dissipated and the sun came out again.

Nobody really wants to go through a storm but, let's face it, storms are a part of life here in this imperfect world. So, if you are going through a storm right now, my encouragement to you is this: find your security in the Rock (and I don't mean Dwayne Johnson!), hang in there, and find a few friends who will ride it out with you. Oh, and watch the weather report before you go out walking! ;)