Have you ever been caught in a storm or experienced a tornado or a blizzard? I’ve experienced a couple quite terrifying storms in my lifetime and when my minds eye travels back, I vividly remember details. The blizzard of 1978 in Ohio shut down the town for days when I was just a kid, with four feet of wet snow. Several years later as an adult I was driving from Pennsylvania to Ohio in the dead of Winter, with my three little kids in the car, a severe snowstorm came in suddenly in the first hour of my five hour drive home. I could not see the lines on the road and was in totally unfamiliar territory. Visibility was next to nothing, I felt like I was driving blind with my babies lives in my hands.

I remember praying for God’s protection around us, asking the Father to send angels to guide me to stay on the road. I have to admit fear was gripping my heart and I shed a few tears from the overwhelming pressure. Thankfully, my kids were tired and fell asleep so it was just me and Jesus, so they didn’t see their mama crying and desperately praying for His hands to take the wheel.

God’s word says quite a lot about storms. He spoke to Job out of the storm in the Old Testament book of Job chapter 38 when Job was suffering storms of illness and the loss of his children and his wealth. In the New Testament in Matthew 8:23-27 Jesus spoke to the winds and the waves and calmed the storm when the disciples thought they were going to be drowned in the violent sea. This was after they had witnessed Jesus do some eye popping miracles, where was their faith? Well, it was being swallowed up by their fear in the storm. See my previous blog; “Peace in the Storm” written in October.

Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not overtake you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not burn you.”

I can relate well to fear when the storms are all you can see in front of you, I’ve had a lot of storms in my life, you can read about some of them in my book “Ashes To Diamonds And Rubies.” I’ve learned to trust that the Master of the wind and the waves knows how to navigate me through them all! His presence brings me a peace within my heart even when the storms rage all around me! I have written His word on my heart and the Holy Spirit brings the very word to my remembrance exactly when I need it. It didn’t happen overnight though, it took practice while in the storms of life.

Remember that blizzard I was driving in with my three little kids in the car? There were times when I totally lost visibility, like my headlights were not working. It was bad enough the snow blowing hindered my sight but now the little light I had to get through the storm was darkened. I pulled over to check them, praying I wouldn’t be hit by another vehicle unable to see me. There had developed a thick coating of ice a couple inches thick on the headlights. I grabbed the scraper and chipped the ice away, allowing the light to shine again.

Psalm 91 is one of those favorite scriptures that I speak over my life when I’m going through storms in life. “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High God will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, And I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in who I trust.” I also love Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

I made it home from that storm and fell to my knees thanking God for His protection and guidance through that difficult drive. I had taken my kids to see their dad while he was in prison, another storm that was hard to navigate. One thing sure is that God is there for us when we call on Him. He will light the path to come closer still to His heart. I truly embrace every storm of life to pull me closer to my Creator. I know it sounds a little crazy to be thankful for storms but His love was crazy for me, when He sent Jesus to die for my sin and cover me in His love that I can have Eternal life through Him.

I pray that you seek His presence during the storms of life my friend. He will light your path and shelter you through the darkest of nights. You are loved and seen by the Father and He is faithful to His children. If you’ve never called out to Him just share your heart in your own words. I promise He hears us when we seek Him with all our hearts.

In His Love, Sharon Kay