SHELTER

Last night across the south traveled a line of severe storms. They contained tornadoes, hail, wind, thunder and lightning, and heavy rains. My sister who lives by herself in Alabama texted to ask for prayers because of the severe weather coming. My heart was all in. I live with three grown adults and still get anxious during bad weather. Praying for her was going to be done without hesitation.

As a noun shelter means a place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger. As a verb it means protect or shield from something harmful, especially weather. When these storms fire up I want the noun and the verb shelter. I want the place and something or someone to protect me. Don't we all! And thankfully we have that in our all powerful God.

I started reading verses about shelter and if you take them literally there are plenty that assure us that God provides protection from the storms and the rains. Look at just this one verse in Isaiah..."There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and rain." Isaiah 4:6. When I hear the rains pounding, the boom of thunder, and the crackle of lightening this is what I think about. I imagine a large sturdy wall covered by a canopy; God and I on the inside and the bad weather on the outside. God is standing right beside me holding my hand and where we are it is still and quiet. From where we are you can just see over the top to the other side. The wind is howling, the trees are swaying, the rain is coming down in sheets and the sky is lit up by lightening. But where God and I are standing there is quiet, safety, stillness, and peace. He has provided a shelter for me and He is sheltering me!

Thankfully the verses referring to shelter in the bible also tell us about a God who gives us a place during not just weather related storms but storms of life. Again, as with the weather, during tough times in life God provides himself as the place of protection and is also the one to protect us. I love this verse...Psalm 61:3..."For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy." Did you catch the word STRONG! Not just a cardboard box but a strong tower against the enemy. And then another... Psalm 18:2..."The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge." A fortress! Wow! But look at what else our shelter and protector is. He is our rock; a solid firm mass. And adding to the protection and protector he delivers us out of the storms of life. He brings us out of the storm to the other side. He is our deliverer. Another verse that stirs up emotion in me when I read it is Psalm 27:5. This is what that verse promises..." For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; he will set me high on a rock." What a God we have! When severe weather comes, like it did last night, he has a place that is safe for us and he will be with us. When the storms of life come, and my friend they will come, God is there with a place ready for us to keep us safe, a refuge, a secret place, a strong tower, even a fortress if we need it. And our Rock, our God will be there with us and deliver us from all and any storms! AMEN!

Psalm 91:4...He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge."