But God made the earth by his power; He founded the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding. When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from His storehouses. Jeremiah 10:12-13 (NIV)
It rained!!! We are in the midst of a drought so the sight of grey clouds is welcome news. The grass crunches when you walk on it, and my potted plants withered away. Survival of the fittest is the rule of landscaping at my house. Over the past few days, we had just slight showers here and there, but today, it came down in torrents. When I went home at lunch, the horses were tucked up under the barn roof napping. I guess they love the sound of rain hitting a metal roof as much as I do. I longed to lay down for a rest as well, but duty called, and I left the darkened house to brave the storm and return to work. I probably would not have been able to sleep anyway. The rain brought thunder and lightening along with it, and Lucy and Sky were both nervous wrecks. Sky has always been afraid of thunder, but she will find a secure place, beside the bed or under a table, and wait it out. Perhaps Lucy caught Sky’s attitude. Ever since she was a pup, Lucy has been afraid of the storms. She gets restless and moves continually. From inside the closet to behind the toilet (quite a sight to see a Doberman wedged behind the toilet), she paces around the house, all the while panting and shaking. She is a pathetic sight, a large lump of quivering dog looking at me with big eyes asking me to stop the noise. Even though I reassure her, she is still afraid. There is nothing I can do to help. Only the storm’s end will bring her peace. When I left the house, I did not make the dogs go back outside, but left them inside. At least there, they do not have to worry about getting wet, and I think the thunder might be a little quieter inside than in their other refuge, the garage. All of us have to go through the storms of life at one time or another. Some of us might even feel that it is hurricane season and one after another rushes over us. We never get our breath. While we cannot choose our circumstances, we can certainly choose how we will react to them. What do you do when faced with a storm? Like Lucy, do you run from one thing to the next seeking comfort and security, yet never finding that peace that you desire? Or are you more like Sky, still unsettled and anxious, but in a safe place waiting for the storm to end? Or are you like the horses? Content that there is a covering of protection over you and choosing to listen to the pleasant drum of raindrops rather than the loud crash of thunder? God will protect you. He knows all and controls all even the storms of life. Trust Him. Wait for the storm to pass. Rest under His umbrella. He is at work.
Leave a Reply