In What Do You Trust?

When the familiar is shaken and threatened, what do we do?

Many in Southeastern United States got the opportunity to experience that challenge recently.

Hurricane Helene was a devastating tropical cyclone that caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the Southeastern United States in late September 2024. It caused over 230 deaths and hundreds are still missing. Thousands were without power for many, many days. People drowned, or were swept away. Many lost everything they owned because of flooding and erosion.

But how about you and me? How do we respond when health, employment, finances, relationships, cultures, or elections are swept away? In times of feeling shaken to the core, how do we process what is happening? Has God given us direction on what to do?

“Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” – Psalm 46:2-3

It seems frustrating to read a command that we not fear when we feel fear pumping through our bodies. Joshua felt scared entering Canaan. The disciples felt scared on a raging sea. We feel scared at times, and with good reason – I have faced guns, lions, charging elephants, and presidential elections here in South Africa. Fear is a natural response that God has built in to protect us.

On Second Thought

The ray of hope comes in what we choose to think as our second thought, in what we choose to meditate on as we fear and flee. What are the tent pegs that anchor our souls? How can we possibly think thanks in those situations?

1. God is sovereign. He controls the details, tiny and vast, of what is happening around me and to me, and can be trusted with what He allows. Nothing can happen to me outside of His control, and everything has been filtered through the sieve of His love for me.

“[The Most High] does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” – Daniel 4:35

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” – Romans 8:28-29

2. God promises He will never leave me or forsake me. He does not exempt me from storms, floods, and fires; sometimes He calls me to them. But always, He is with me as a teacher, comforter, coach, and helper.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” – Isaiah 43:1-3

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6, see also Psalm 37:25-28

Th(i)nkful in the Storm

I am reading through the book of Job with a few people and have been again reminded of what the key is for Job in his horrible storm. He needed to get a good, clear view of how big our Creator God is (Job 38-42). What his friends needed to remind him of is that God is God and we may not understand all of His purposes and greater plans, but we can trust His character.

As I become confident of God’s compassion, graciousness, steadfast love and faithfulness to His own, I can pursue thinking thanks in all circumstances. I can find peace and calmness of soul though the storm may rage all around me. In Hebrews 11’s “Hall of Faith,” most of God’s people went through uprooting or some kind of storm of suffering. Many, like God’s Son, gave their lives in the center of God’s will and in the bull’s eye of God’s favor.

When my husband’s mom passed away, his brother Jeff shared with us a song by Casting Crowns that had been helpful for him as he grieved mom’s death.

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say amen
And it’s still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I’ll raise my hands
And praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus] And I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Gathering My Thoughts During a Gale

What a comfort to remind ourselves that God has me in this storm by His design, with His purposes, and for His glory. He is fully aware of the details in my life. In fact, He is the author of, and sovereign over, those details.

What great reminders in the middle of the storm that we can think thanks about.

The Lord calms storms.

“And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” – Matthew 8:26

The Lord is a shelter from the storm.

“For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat…” – Isaiah 25:4

We can hide under His wings till the storm passes.

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” – Psalm 57:1

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge.” – Psalm 91:1, 4

The Lord will be with me in the storm and eventually bring me out of the storm.

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” – Psalm 107:28-29

It is better to fear the Lord than the storm; God wants me to focus on Him and to call on Him.

“… and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?'” – Luke 8:23-25

His Word Gives Perspective

Yes, I realize that I used A LOT of Scripture in this post. That is a key in storms. I must get above them, get up to God’s point of view. Run to the Word for help!! Feed on the Word, sing it, quote it out loud, memorize and meditate on the Word. God is our rock of refuge and we can run to Him continually.

Maybe it would be a good idea to write out some of these soul anchoring verses to remember.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott