Thunder rattled the windowpanes, lightning crackled across the sky, and torrential rain fell in sheets. Amid the storm's din, I heard scratching and whimpering at the back door.
Susie, our German Shepherd/collie mix, feared storms. And she had good reason. When she was younger, a limb dropped by hurricane-force winds crushed the shed where she sometimes slept. Although we got her a sizable doghouse thereafter, the first rumblings of thunder sent her to our door. We took pity on her during storms and let her in. Usually, she would find the boys and curl up next to them as they played games or watched TV, content to be inside with her people.
However, on this day, Susie followed me around. She didn't try to snuggle close to me or seek attention. Instead, she burrowed as far as she could under my desk. Only her head and one shoulder fit, exposing the rest of her body. She looked comical and pitiful. Her shelter was insufficient, but she seemed to feel better. I understood how she felt.
When we're afraid, we also want to hide. We seek any number of inadequate shelters: alcohol, drugs, food, social media, harmful relationships, retail therapy, Netflix. They might distract us or make us feel better for a moment, but none of them can protect or help us. Some of them even cause more problems.
Only God is a sufficient shelter. He alone can keep us safe in the storm until He makes it disappear. As David prayed when hiding from Saul in a cave, we can also plead with God by appealing to His mercy and trusting in the shadow of His wings.
Storms will come to all of us. When your next storm hits, take refuge in your all-sufficient heavenly Father by praying and reading His Word.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and whitedaemon.)
Barbara Harper has been married for forty years and has three adult sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and an adorable grandson. She has spent most of her adult life as a full-time homemaker. She has written a newsletter for her church ladies' group for fifteen years, as well as a few magazine articles and newspaper columns. She has a passion for getting women into the Word of God, and she's working on her first book on that topic. She loves reading, writing, and card-making. She blogs at https://barbaraleeharper.com.