As a little girl, I remember so vividly how thunderstorms struck chords of fear and anxiety within me. Growing up in West Texas, it was not uncommon to be
awakened in the middle of a warm summer night by the sounds of “ear-piercing” thunder that caused the earth to rumble, and lightening that streaked the expanse of the midnight sky. Almost every night, as I said my bedtime prayers, I would ask The Lord to “please let us not have any storms and be able to sleep through the night.” There were nights, though, when my mom or dad would come into my room, awaken me, and tell me to put on my shoes to go to the storm cellar. It was so hard to wake up out of a sound sleep, but the looming black clouds in the distant night sky would urge me up to do as I was told. My daddy was always the last one out the 
door as he had to make sure that the bathroom window was “cracked” just a little, the television was unplugged, and all of the lights were turned off. He would then step outside, carrying a flashlight, and pick me up. He tucked me away safely in his arms and carried me to the cellar. There, we lit the kerosene lamp and waited out the storm. When storms were really severe, Daddy would hold the big chain on the cellar door to keep the wind from blowing it up. As the storm passed, he would gently lift up the door to see if it was safe for us to return to our house. Usually, by then, I had fallen asleep on the iron bedstead with mattress, waiting for Daddy to give us the “all-clear.” Deeming it safe, he would “scoop me up” in his arms once again and carry me back into the house and put me in my bed. I was never scared of the storms when my daddy was near! I knew he was strong and he would always take care of his family. When I was tucked in his arms, I was safe.
My Personal Musings From God’s Word:
I think back to my childhood, and I am reminded that just as I took refuge in my daddy’s arms during a thunderstorm, I have also been able to take refuge in my Heavenly Father’s arms during the storms of my personal life. He is our Rock, our Stronghold, our Deliverer, our Fortress, our Shield, and the Horn of our Salvation. We can totally and completely trust in Him. We are eternally safe in the refuge of His wings. No storm can tear us away.
Psalm 36:7 (NIV)“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm (91:2)
“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
“The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
