A Storm is Raging

A tornado watch was issued for the day.  The sun was shining as it heated up a new morning, just like any other summer day in June, or so we thought.  The weather that day seemed to be a bit more humid and somewhat unstable.  Living in Kansas, however, the humidity was always a factor with winds and warm temperatures, so nothing really was expected.  As the day progressed, the air became very different and unsettling.

As a child growing up in Kansas, storms were always expected, especially in the month of June.  When the clouds started forming and moving into our area, changing to a very dark and a bit greenish color, the alarm of a bad storm became a reality.  As we watched the clouds move towards us, the sirens sounded.  What do you do?  YOU go to your safe place and wait out the storm.  It could be a basement, storm cellar, closet, bathroom, etc., somewhere safe away from windows. 

 While we listened and waited for the storm to pass, we could hear strong winds, rain, and thunder roaring outside.  I was a young child at the time, and to this day, this storm has had an impact on my life, as well as on my husband and his memory of that day.  My family and I were not in the path of the tornado, but we could hear the storm raging outside with very strong winds and the roaring of thunder and then the stillness of the atmosphere. 

On June 8, 1966, Topeka, Kansas, was hit with an F5 tornado that had wind speeds over 250 miles an hour.  Fear was instilled as the tornado raged down its 22-mile path destroying everything in its way.  For 26 minutes, this tornado caused so much destruction that it was considered at the time to be the most expensive in American history and one of the most destructive tornadoes in Kansas history. 

Since then, there have been many more tornadoes that have been very destructive and damaging to those who have been in their path, and there will be many more.  Storms are raging all around us, not always from weather conditions, but storms from circumstances in life.  Nurturing the hearts of a child is the key to their spiritual growth and maturity in their faith when they are experiencing a storm.

As parents, we should always look for teachable moments to instill godly principles into our children.  Helping them to make the best and most godly choices in their childhood as they mature into adulthood. God’s word gives us what we need to journey through life and make godly choices as we endure the storms.

Below are some important factors about the character of God along with some godly choices that three men made when they made decisions in the event of a storm. 

Noah (righteous and intimate with God)  (Genesis 6 – 9)

What did Noah do in the storm?  God told Noah to build a huge boat, take his family into the boat, and gather two of every animal.  God would send a huge storm of rain for days that would wipe out all of mankind.  Daily, Noah would hear ridicule from the godless people, but Noah believed and trusted God and did exactly what God had commanded.  His choice was to make the best decision to follow God and do what God commanded of Him.

This resulted in God’s mercy and grace towards Noah.  He saved Noah and his family

from death and allowed them to multiply mankind after the great flood.  And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”  (Genesis 9:1)

Noah was a godly man, followed God with a heart of thanksgiving, and built an altar to worship and thank God for His provisions. (Genesis 8:20)  God was pleased with Noah for his righteousness and blessed his obedience with an everlasting covenant.  (Genesis 9:12-17) 

Moses (God’s friend)  (Exodus 1-38)

What did Moses do in the storm?  God told Moses that he would be the leader of His people and lead them out of bondage from the evil Egyptians.  Even after Moses questioned God’s choice, he trusted God and stayed focused on the task that was ahead of him.  God’s plan was very hard with many obstacles, but Moses stayed focused on God and trusted Him to guide him through the storm.  Because of his holy intimacy with God, Moses was given supernatural aid in his journey through the storm.  Moses had a very strong faith and demonstrated to people by example that God is all-powerful and merciful to those who trust Him for their deliverance.  His choice was to follow God and make decisions according to God’s plan and not his own, with God directing his path. 

This resulted in the freedom of God’s people and protection from death.  Moses spent his life seeking God and following Him and God’s plan for his life.  Due to the close intimacy Moses had with God, God allowed him to see His back, perform acts of supernatural ability, and die a supernatural death so that mankind would see God’s glory.  God used Moses to lead the people of Israel out of bondage.    Moses made a memorial to God so that people would see that God is love, He is our protector, and He is all-powerful.  (Ex. 12:14)  God blessed Moses for His obedience and intimacy and gave Moses a supernatural death and burial.  (Deuteronomy 34:1-7)

David (a man after God’s own heart)  (I Samuel 16-20)

What did David do in the storm?  Trusted God and looked to Him for help in this life circumstance.  Only God could help David in this storm.  Goliath was a big giant of a man waging war on the people of Israel.  Everyone was fearful of Goliath, but not David, with his strong faith in God and his prior experience of God’s protection during a storm.  David knew God would protect him during his battle against Goliath because he had already experienced God’s protection, and he believed God would protect him again.                  

This task was big, but God was in control of the storm.  God gave David the ability to destroy the giant Philistine, Goliath.  David made the right choice with God’s strength and power because he believed and trusted God for his protection and deliverance.  His choice was to follow God and do what was commanded of him. 

This resulted in David defeating the giant, Goliath.  God gave David the victory, and David gave God the glory.   God’s plan was accomplished, and the victory taught the people that

the Lord is the true God and delivers His people. Later, God blessed David by making him king.

David became greater and greater because the God of the host was with him.  David sang to the Lord with a heart filled with thanksgiving and praise as he worshiped the true God who is all-powerful, protector, provider, merciful, praiseworthy, and full of grace.  (2 Samuel 22:1-22:51)  God blesses David by anointing him three different times as king.  1 Samuel 16:13, 2 Samuel 2:4, 2 Samuel 5:3.

God protected all three of these men from death.  He is Elohim the creator of all things, and will protect and guide you in life circumstances during a storm.  He is more than able to protect you in a storm.  After all, He created all things, and all things belong to Him.

God showed His love for all three of these men by taking care of their needs.  He is God who loves you more than you can imagine.  God, the one who loves you unconditionally, will supply all your needs.  (Philippians 4:19)

God never left any of these three men alone in the storm.  God will never leave you alone in a storm when things get rough.  (Joshua 1:9)  Trust Him with all your heart and lean on Him for the best possible outcome.  His plans are always the best because He knows all things, controls all things, and guides us according to His will. 

May the peace of God that surpasses all understanding calm you in the raging storm and give you what you need as you seek Him, who is your safe place and your refuge from the storm.  (Philippians 4:7)   

Post by Lisa Goodyear published by Gaye Austin, Coordinator