Well as difficult as it may be to not worry about the storm that is to come, it’s even more difficult to be content while right smack dab in the middle of a storm. During our cross-country move last year I came to a point when I found myself wanting to pray “God, I was sure by now you would step in and save the day!” But as the thunder of the moving truck rolled and the lightning strikes of goodbyes started flashing, floods of tears came pouring down. I went back to my scripture: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again; Rejoice! ….But it seemed so difficult. How could I rejoice in the Lord if I can’t see Him? In all the hustle, all the boxes, all the noise, all the sleep-less nights…where was He?! Then I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio. “Praise you in this storm” by Casting Crowns. A portion of the lyrics goes something like this:

“I was sure by now, that you would have reached down and wiped our tears away. Stepped in and saved the day! But once again, I say amen….and it’s still raining. As the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain “I’m with you”

As your mercy falls, I will raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away. I will praise you in this storm, I will lift my hands…you are who you are, no matter where I am. And every tear I’ve cried, you hold in your hand…you never left my side. And though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm.”

“You are who you are, no matter where I am” Wow. It suddenly hit me that maybe God wasn’t the one that moved. Maybe it was more difficult for me to see God because I moved further away from Him! If He is the same yesterday, today, and forever…it’s not His problem I can’t seem to find him, it’s mine. So what should I do to draw closer to Him? The lyrics of the song were rushing through my head. “Though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm”. Ah. Perhaps I should focus more energy on praising God, rather than searching for Him. “As the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain” Perhaps instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of the cross-country move, I should stop for a minute and listen for a whisper though the storm. After all, how could I hear a whisper if I was constantly crying out? I couldn’t.  About this same time a friend encouraged me to read Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God.”

That was it. The reason I was so stressed and strung out…I was so busy moving about and crying out to God that I couldn’t hear Him over my own noise. That day, I slowed down. For me, God’s little whispers through the storm came in forms of a single daisy in the pasture, a hug from a family member, and a beautiful sunset.

When storms in your life are huge, don’t get so overwhelmed by them that you forget to be still and notice the small but beautiful whispers God sends your way.

 (Kelci L. Goad)