“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as He brought them safely into harbor! Psalm 107:28-29
It wasn’t the first time I had to take shelter in the innermost room of the house. As we sat hunkered down in the hallway bathroom, listening to the weatherman on the TV just outside the door describe “rotation activity” all around us, I had an eerie déjà vu moment. We lived in Kansas, not once but twice, and living there schooled me quickly in tornado preparation. And that was the major difference between then and now. I wasn’t prepared this go around.
Just weeks earlier, I attended the hurricane preparedness class. Get a kit, make a plan, and be informed is the Red Cross hurricane readiness axiom. And I had done none of that; now, Hurricane Idalia, which hit Wilmington as a tropical storm, had arrived.
It seems logical to prepare ahead of time for hurricanes and tornados, especially when you live along the coastline. How about the storms of life? Should we prepare for the times that send us into our innermost rooms in fear, pain, and suffering? I believe it is vital to prepare our hearts and minds for the inevitable storms of life. The fierce winds can blow us over if we are not ready, firmly rooted in our Christian beliefs, and have an intimate knowledge of God. But how do we prepare for life’s storms? Just like gathering hurricane supplies, there are practical ways to prepare ourselves. I believe, first and foremost, to be students of the Word.
As fall descends upon us and school starts, it is a great time to commit to a Bible study or a reading plan. We should study what the Bible teaches about trials and suffering. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). God’s word brings light into the darkest of situations. It is our anchor when the storm is rocking our world. We must study what scriptures teach us about God, who He is, and His character. Deeper still, we need to know God and trust Him. And that deeper relationship will develop only by spending time with Him, in His Word.
Trusting God and affirming His sovereignty plays a significant role in facing a storm. Do we believe He is in absolute control over everything that touches our lives? Do we truly trust that He has only good intentions? Do we firmly believe that our pain and suffering can be used for our transformation and His glory? Is our hope solely on Christ alone? We can make the kit and the plan and be informed, but are we fully prepared and ready without these assurances?
Developing our prayer life during the calm seasons is also essential. In turbulent times, praying should be just like breathing. Prayer will not be our go-to comfort if we grapple for words or feel awkward. Trusting God with all things through daily prayer prepares us to turn to Him in the storms.
I have plenty of excuses for not doing something to prepare for Idalia. None of them is a valid excuse. At the very least, I should have stocked up on bottled water and filled up the gas tank (several stations ran out of gas). It can be frightening when we are unprepared for nature’s or life’s storms. It is during the times of peace and calm we must disciple ourselves in the Word and prayer. We must pray for and pursue a faith that courageously confronts the devastation the storms leave behind with a solid trust in God, a faith that says, “It is well with my soul.” And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.