Refuge of Grace

As a young child, I vividly remember fearfully peering out our basement window, watching the once tall tree giants bending, almost like Gumby, as tornado-like winds blew across our backyard. They are going to snap, I remember thinking. Now as an adult, I often feel like those trees, thinking, I’m going to snap. Have you ever felt like this? Like the ferocious storm in your life just might break you? If you have, you aren’t alone—I often do, too. Sometimes it feels the storm may never end. Take heart, friend. God sustains us amidst the storm; we might bend, but we won’t break.

Today, clouds darken the sky and a steady downpour of rain pings atop our skylights. The trickle of rain soothes my ears, relaxing me, encouraging me to take a necessary nap. My brain is in a depression-induced fog. The whirlwind of thoughts are not my friend today.

The rain intensifies, drowning out any other sounds. So loud, sleep is not possible; instead, I’m laser-focused on the pelting drops ricocheting off the glass, the rain no longer comforting. I can’t help but notice the similarities between this torrential rain and the cumbersome weight of life sometimes.

In these rain-annihilating moments, difficulties blast us—maybe grief, job loss, depression, a strained or broken relationship, divorce, single parenting, a health crisis, or caring for a sick child or parent. Friend, these moments of heavy storms in our lives feel unbearable. We can’t imagine how we will get out of bed, let alone wash dishes, prepare a meal, or care for our family and friends. These seasons of heavy clouds are hard.

In His grace, God turns the knob, slowing the rushing water, the drops lighten to a soothing patter. The billowing storm clouds roll by, taking the heavy rain with them. Following this procession of angry vapor, the sky brightens, revealing the sun piercing through the clouds and enchanting beauty fills the sky.

Isn’t this the undulating ebb and flow of life sometimes? One moment, the storm threatens to overtake us and the next, rays of sun emerge, crowning the sky in radiance. The enchanting light reminds us of God’s presence; however, God is not only present when the sun breaks through– God sustains us, in the midst of the storm.

The Psalms are full of examples where the psalmist cries out to God in distress. Psalm 54, penned by David, is one of these gut-wrenching cries to God during a storm David faced—betrayal by those he thought he could trust. In this psalm, David prays these words, “God is my helper, the Lord is the sustainer of my life” (Psalm 54:4, CSB). According to Strong’s Concordance, “sustainer” translated in Hebrew is, סָמַךְ çâmak, meaning, “to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon.” David praised God for supporting and upholding him during his trial and we know the same is true for us. We can lean on God—this storm will not break us.

Dear friend, when the storm gushes upon us, help us remember God sustains us. Let’s lean into God, trusting He will not allow the winds of this storm to overtake us. He is our sustainer in whatever storm we face today. Just like the towering trees from my childhood, have courage dear one, we might bend, but won’t break.