Safe in the Storm by Lauri Hawley

I’m munching on salty pretzels and drinking hot tea. Blizzard winds are howling outside and the windows on all sides of our house are caked with snow, blocking the view of the storm swirling around us.

But inside we’re safe. 

We have plenty of food to keep us for a few days or more, and there’s no fear of going hungry. We have a gas stove, so heating food will not be a problem if the power goes out for an extended period.

Temperatures outside are dropping throughout the day and night and are expected to get down to a “real feel” of -2˚F by tomorrow morning. 

But inside we’re warm. 

We’ve got a fire going in the woodstove, with plenty of blankets around the house to pile on if the fire isn’t enough.

The roads are not safe for travel, and there aren’t many places open anyway! Home is a safe place to stay today.

Storms of life don’t always come with handy forecasts, do they? Sometimes they seem to forcefully blow in from nowhere, taking us completely by surprise.

These tempests come in many forms.

Loss.

Chaos.

Rejection.

Financial struggles.

How do we respond to them? Do we focus on the howling winds and driving rain (or snow), or do we focus on the One who holds us in the palm of his hand?

Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 NLT).

I believe God fits all those criteria/

 “Fixing our thoughts” takes practice. It doesn’t come easily when things seem to be spinning out of control, but becomes a bit easier when we make it a regular exercise through all of the normal highs and lows of life. 

When we don’t set our minds on God and his promises, our circumstances can quickly lead us down mental roads that are unfit for travel.

Fear.

Despair.

Bitterness.

Helplessness.

God does not want you wandering out in the cold down those paths, friend! Take your thoughts captive and focus them on what God’s Word says.

Jesus said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27 NLT).

Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV).

“My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:2 NLT).

As you fix your thoughts on him and his promises, may you begin to see that God is our safe place to stay every day, no matter what life blows in our direction.

Lauri Hawley is a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and “Nana” of two. She enjoys getting dirt under her fingernails from digging in the flowerbed, eating warm cookies from the oven, and writing to encourage Christ followers on their journeys of faith. You can read more of her work at laurihawley.com.