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 the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river
whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High
dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of
day…Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I
will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46: 1-5, 10 NIV)
Peace
enveloped me when I stepped onto my porch. What a contrast to last night’s
storm.
Wind
battered trees. Gales formed swells on the lake and threw them in every
direction.
Rain pelted
my windows and screen. As I tried to pull patio furniture to the middle of the
porch, a crack of thunder sent me running inside. Lightning flashed nearby.
For hours,
rain continued. Red splotches on the weather radar hovered over my community.
Lights blinked but never went out. Gradually, the wind lessened but the rain
persisted.
At dawn, I
looked for storm damage but saw none. Instead, serenity greeted me with the
sunrise.
Gray whispy
clouds danced across the lake. Sunlight sparkled on vibrant grass and colorful
flowers. Droplets fell from my oak tree. Cypress limbs drooped because of
waterlogged needles. Wind and rain bent decorative grasses like old men. But
nothing seemed to be destroyed.
A movement
caught my eye as I did my morning devotions. At the end of the lake, a doe and
her white fawn jogged along the shoreline. Finally, I saw the unusual offspring
my neighbors had seen on previous days.
As the sun
warmed the air, water evaporated. Droopy limbs sprung back into place.
Decorative grasses stood tall and waved in the breeze. Clouds disappeared and
blue sky returned.
After the
evening tempest, God provided delightful surprises at dawn. I had a choice to
make. I could focus on the frightening storm or the peace afterward. Remembering His faithfulness during past storms,
helped me decide to embrace the tranquility.
Heavenly Father, thank
you for your love and care in the rain and the sunshine. Amen
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