Raging tempests!
Verse for Today: Monday, January 21, 2013
Psalms 55:8 – (I said) “I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm”.
Tempests and storms blow against people in their lives all the time. Storms ruin lives and sink people in fear and hopelessness. They run for cover which proves to be mirages. Many resort to substance abuse to keep their minds off the pressure of storms. Others fall into depression and become perennially sick. God’s children also face fierce tempests and storms in life. Sometimes we are tempted to quit or run away. We often rush to places of shelter and withdraw from active life. Sometimes we get into activities to keep us busy and thus to avoid the pressures of tempests. But eventually these pseudo shelters prove to be smokescreens. David found that when all pseudo refuges fail, there is a place of quiet rest in the presence of God. He found that God will hide us behind the Rock of Ages where the storms and tempests will not affect us. This Rock is Jesus who is the shelter in times of storms and tempests. When David faced storms and tempests in the form of gossip, distortions, spying, eviction, false allegations, artificial evidence and brutal criticism, he felt like hurrying away to some shelter to hide and rest. He ran for life for some time, but found that it was of no use because his enemy was far stronger than him. David was afraid for life and desperately sought an escape and a release. At last David found refuge in the Lord and His awesome presence. To his amazement, the presence of God was available to him any time at any place and all he had to do was to enter into the sanctuary of God and cry unto Him for escape and rest. In God’s presence, he found ample consolations, potent promises and tranquility. Today we can go to this refuge of the Almighty and dwell in His shadow to enjoy His peace, joy, confidence and comfort and ward off all fears and anxiety.
Dear friend, are you being battered by tempests and storms in life? Are the storms so strong as to drain away all your confidence and courage and fill you with fear and anxiety? Have you found that the traditional refuges that you counted on are powerless? Are you left alone in the lurch, tossed around and shattered into pieces? When all other refuges wane and wax away, your Lord will be there as the Rock for you to run into. He is the strong pillar of power and strength on which you can take refuge. He is the never changing Jesus who will be with you. He will be most dependable during tough times of tempests and storms. When you find your feet dragging and earth disappearing below you, still your Lord will be there, as faithful as ever, to give you stability and strength. When you are unable to handle tempests of job loss, financial crises, disloyalty of dearest ones, physical ailment or disillusionment, there is a place to go to and a person to talk to. He is your Lord who loves you with an everlasting love. He will receive you with divine warmth and comfort. He will encourage you with promises and guide you according to His wisdom. He will fill you with His peace which passes all understanding in your most battered situation and give you hope for a brighter tomorrow. He knows your tomorrows. He is the Lord of your tomorrows. So there is no need to feel depressed and disillusioned, but be encouraged as you lean on to the Lord who is your everlasting Rock and tower of refuge. He is greater than all the tempests and storms that blow against you. He will either take you victoriously through the storms or command the storm to stop for safe passage.
Deuteronomy 33:27 – The Eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
Thought for Today
When tempests rage and storms batter, the Rock of Ages will cover us and take us forward.
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