The sound of rain pattered on our tin roof. Soft at first, but soon the drops were falling fast, sounding like knuckles rapping on the front door. Then came the low rumbling of thunder. My almost five-year old ran over to me.
“Mom, is there going to be a tornado?”
“It’s just a thunderstorm.”
“Does thunder come with a tornado?” he asked.
“Yes, it does.”
The windows began to shake with each boom of the thunder. Rain poured down even harder.
“Mom, what would we do if there was a tornado? Would we leave?”
My son’s eyes grew wider with each boom and rattle of the glass door next to where he stood. His face was pale, eyes wide, and skin pulled back tight. He paced around the room, looked outside at the storm and then came back around to me.
“Mom, how do you know when it’s a tornado?”
I explained about emergency warning notifications on the tv and told him that if a tornado was nearby, we would be warned. I then checked the weather on the computer. “It’s just a thunderstorm. That’s all.”
He laid down in bed, we snuggled, had our story time and prayed, all to the background sounds of rain, thunder and the wind beating against the windows. I promised him I would return to snuggle with him more after helping his brother get ready for bed.
I know fear well. We’ve been the best of friends for many years. Together, we’ve experienced much of life together including new changes, transitions, challenges, plans, goals, and trials. I’ve longed to rid myself of fear but each time I’ve told it to leave, I back down and give in. Perhaps I’ve become too comfortable with fear and don’t know what I would do without it. Maybe it gives me a false sense of control over my circumstances. It may also be that it’s easier to live with fear than walk by faith into the unknown.
When I think of life’s storms, I think of Jesus calming the squall while on a boat with the disciples. Tired from a day of teaching, He had fallen asleep on the stern. A furious storm rose up and began to overtake the boat. It was such a violent storm that even the experienced fishermen on board thought they would drown. They rushed to Jesus, woke him up, and ask him why he didn’t care enough to help them.
Oh, but isn’t that me? I try to manage my own trials, insisting I know what I am doing. When the fear consumes me, I finally go to the Father and ask for help. But even then, there’s accusation in my tone. “Why are you letting this happen to me?” “Why didn’t you protect me?” “Do you not care?”
After calming the wind and the sea with a simple command, Jesus’ response to them was, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
It’s lack of faith that creates fear in the face of the storms of life. I despair and think that He has abandoned me. I doubt His love and promises. Yet, since He faced my ultimate storm at the cross so I did not have to, why would I think He would abandon me and leave me all alone to face my little storms? Despite my imperfect faith, my doubt, and my fear, He gives grace. He reminds me that there is no storm left in my life that will sink me, He’s taken care of that. His promise stands, He will never leave me, nor forsake me.
The storm raged on at our house. I heard the windows rattle so hard, I feared they would shatter. Thinking perhaps I was wrong about the storm, I checked the news again. But it remained just a typical Florida style thunderstorm. Shortly thereafter, I went in to check on my son, certain he was waiting for me, curled up under the covers, trembling with fear.
I found him sound asleep.
The next morning, I said, “Ian, did you see that the storm went away?” He shrugged and said, “Yeah.” And then he ran off to play.
I once heard the quote (by whom, unfortunately I can’t remember), “If you don’t have to fear God, you have nothing left to fear.” When our heart is so gripped by love and faith in our Savior because He took on our ultimate storm for us, there is nothing left to fear. We can face anything with confidence because we know we are completely loved. And though storm clouds linger in this life, we know that one day He will return and still all the storms forever.
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3
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I think we are very often like your son-forgetting how scary the storms in our life were when they raged. We forget how powerful God was in keeping us safe through the storm when the storm is behind us. This is a great reminder, Christina, not to forget how great our God is!
Thanks, Beth. My heart’s prayer is that I would remember His love and power, no matter the fierceness of the winds.
The picture is just beautiful…I think every time Jesus appeared to His disciples after the resurrection…He greeted them with peace be with you…I pray we can here those words whispered in the calm and in the storms.
I agree with that prayer. May we remember that He is always there. Blessings!
Christina, what a beautiful story, particularly where your son fell fast asleep, after prayer and your assurances that everything would be alright. Oh, for a childlike faith.
Peace and good to you.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I pray that my faith would be like that, secure in His love and care. Have a great day!
This comforts my soul today… “one day He will return and still all the storms forever.” Yes, He will. Even the storms in me.
Beautiful encouragement today, my friend. Blessings as you lead your little ones to Him
I know, I too look forward to that day! So glad you stopped by!
At some point along this pilgrimage I learned that my fear has do with somehow thinking I’m in control. If I honestly believe He is in control of my life, then even in death, He is victorious because He is in control of every single moment. Great reminder to let go of fear.
So true-there is nothing to fear because He is in control of it all. We have to learn to live like the blind, listening for the sound of His voice to lead us in the darkness. So glad you stopped by. Praying for your family!
This post has stuck with me today. I love the way you wrote it, I feel like I’m right there in the middle of it. I can imagine the uncertainty as he looks around at the storm and my heart almost trembles with each crash of thunder. And how true it is of my spiritual journey. Thankful for His power in and over the storms!
And of my journey as well. Storms are a powerful metaphor because we can all relate to the fear and uncertainty. But after every storm, life returns, renewed and refreshed. The rainbow reminds us that nothing can pull us under and away from His love. Blessings to you!
what a beautiful post…
My grandmother used to tell me fear was merely a distraction. And if we keep distracted on Him, we have nothing left to fear.
2 decades later, it’s starting to make sense. . .
Striving with you to have that childlike faith …
Grandmothers always have the best wisdom, don’t they? And your grandmothers advice is so very true. I will have to remember that one. Thanks for visiting!
Beautiful story - and gorgeous picture! It can be hard to remain calm in the storms, to remember that He’s still in control, hold on to that peace. Praise God that He reminds us over and over again of all these things that we so easily forget! Thank you for sharing!
I forget easily, I too am thankful for His ready reminders. So glad you visited!
Wow! What an awesome post! I just found your site through the link Wednesday thing. This is the only post I have read, but I will definately be back! Keep up the good work!
Thank you, Sara! It’s so nice to make new friends:) I’m glad you stopped by!
You remind so beautifully and gently to release all fear, everytime to HIm. Your tender telling encourages me today. (visiting from the link up, I LOVE these:)_) So grateful you share your heart here. We learn so much from our children, don’t we. What amazing opportunities we have with them to learn of Him while we point to HIm. Blessings to you, Elizabeth
I know, I learn so much through my children. I often wonder if I learned anything before having them! Blessings to you!
“When our heart is so gripped by love and faith in our Savior because He took on our ultimate storm for us, there is nothing left to fear.”
Beautiful words. A good reminder for me.
Stopping by for the first time from Fellowship Fridays!
Thanks for your sweet comment and for visiting! Blessings!
Beautiful!! Thank you for sharing…I needed that reminder today!
I came your way through Christian Mommy Blogger!
Christie
https://satisfactionthroughchrist.blogspot.com
beautiful Christine, really – HIM in the storm – actually him as the eye of the storm – that calm within – everything whirling around – and the still small voice saying “peace”. Such a good reminder. I’m carrying it with me for the rest of this day. I’m not quite through my storm yet – piece by piece the brain is returning – I’ll just keep fighting the good fight – and thank you for having been there. God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours as always
May He continue to give you peace and help you to walk through the storm to the other side. Blessings to you, Craig!
Christina - I want to thank you for leaving a comment on my blog after a Wednesday link-up with God Bumps and God-Incidences. I think I just experienced one of those as I returned the favor. Today, we are waiting on news from our son (who just got his master’s degree) about a job interview he had yesterday. I have been faithfully praying for months, and those prayers will continue. But today has been tough. The longer the day goes by and I don’t hear any news, the more fearful I become. Reading your words today was like a breath of fresh air as I will endeavor to “let go and let God.” I love your photo, too. (I had a double rainbow - Kansas style- on my blog last Monday.) Thanks again for your timely visit.
I’m so glad you visited, Kim. I am often encouraged when visiting blogs in this community. God always sends me to the one who writes just the words I need that day. May He give you peace as you wait. Blessings!
Hi Christina, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. I used to suffer with anxiety and panic attacks until I began to truly understand who God is, who He is in my life, who I am in Him. My faith and hope allow me to be more like your son. Life is so wonderful and new to me now. Just today I was reading this story out of Luke and I fell in love with Him all over again. So glad to know THE ONE who calms every storm in my life. Loved this post. My inner man gets excited when I find other women who KNOW this truth. So glad I found your blog!
A good word here, friend.
This weekend, I attended Women of Faith in Des Moines. Angie Smith spoke about fear, referring to her book Women of Fear. Have you read it? I think you’d appreciate her words.
I remind myself always that fear is not from God. I really like that quote at the end. So true, if you don’t have to fear God, then there is nothing to fear. Now if I could just let that soak in!
I’m late making my rounds this week! It was crazy last week! Thanks for linking up with WIP Wednesday!
What a great reminder, and don’t you just love that our children are so full of lessons in and of themselves? It’s a wonder we end up teaching them anything they haven’t already taught us. Great post, and thanks for linking up with Christian Mommy Blogger!