The night before last, we had a powerful storm rip through my town bringing with it an intense thunder and lightening show. It was beautiful. I laid in bed thoroughly enjoying the view out my window when about midnight, my cat jumped onto my bed scaring me half to death. As soon as she made it onto my bed she scrambled to burrow herself, facedown into the crook of my arm, cowering at each bolt of lightening and crash of thunder. I pet her and gently told her it was going to be ok. What she couldn’t know was that we were perfectly safe inside my apartment and it was interesting as I watched a pattern develop. When I stopped petting her and talking to her, she began to shiver again and I could see panic in her eyes. But as long as I was stroking her and soothing her with my voice, although the storm had not passed she was calm and able to rest.
I smiled thinking about how similar I am to my cat. A storm rolls into my life and I cower with anxiety and worry about what’s going to happen. My circumstances threaten me like intense bolts of lightening and the crashing thunder of doubt and fear can be deafening. Where do I turn? All I know is that when I am in the midst of a storm, if I can just be near Jesus, He puts me at rest. My situation may not change and the thunder and lightening may continue to make threats to overwhelm me, but the soothing voice of my God through His Word and His gentle touch put my heart at ease. With Him I am safe. He is in control. He sees the scope of my storm and is sovereign over it. His nearness is all I need.