He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4
It was Saturday and Macy had planned to spend time with her friend down the street, riding bikes, watching a little television, sitting under the maple tree in the back to talk about life. But her friend had texted last night to tell her she couldn’t hang out because she had a family thing to go to.
So Macy was a little bummed this morning. Mom knew her plans had fallen through so she offered to take her and her two younger sisters to their favorite park. It really didn’t interest Macy; the park had moved way down on her list of fun things to do. But it was better than being stuck in the house all day.
Although the sky was overcast, it was still a nice day and Macy was really having a good time at the park. She had forgotten how much she loved to swing and it was kind of fun to push her two younger sisters and hear them yell, Higher! Higher!” and then laugh out loud when she did just that.
Macy felt the first drop of rain while she was pushing her little sister on the swing. Soon that drop turned into more drops and more drops until they had to stop and seek shelter from the rain. There was no lightning with this storm so the family first went under a big Oak with lots of branches to wait it out. But before too long, they realized the rain was coming down harder and harder and that their temporary shelter needed to be upgraded. Luckily there was a picnic shelter with a wooden roof nearby so they quickly ran over there. Under the shelter of that wooden roof, they were safe from the rain.
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deuteronomy 33:26-27a
For Macy, this brough to mind their Sunday School lesson from last week. How putting our trust in temporary shelters would not keep us safe from the storm. How only by putting our trust in Jesus could we find shelter from whatever storm was going on in our lives.
There, as her mom and little sisters, laughed and giggled, she realized that her dad had followed this same path. He had sought shelter in the temporary things of this life; things that did not really shelter and offered no permanence. Her mom and she and her sisters, had sought shelter in Jesus. They had prayed together for a long time for Dad to run to the only One who could provide shelter from the storms of life.
The wait had been long and Macy became discouraged and disappointed, thinking God had not heard their prayers or that He was taking His sweet time to answer them. This is when Mom told her that sometimes we just have to wait out the storm to see our answers.
So, they had waited. And prayed. And forgiven. And shown unconditional love. After some time, Macy had started to see a break in the storm, some light behind the clouds of their broken family. Dad started to call more, to come around more. Words between her mom and dad had softened and become kind and caring. One day, the storm clouds started to drift away and Dad was once again safe in the sheltering arms of Jesus and back with his family.
The sudden rain storm started slowing down and before long Macy could see the sun peeking out from the clouds. As she looked up at that radiant orb, she thought of Jesus, peeking out of the clouds of the storm in their family life. Macy smiled and said, “Thank You Jesus!”
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
God bless
A Stander in Nebraska
