Lessons & Devotionals By Mary Wolfe SAFE THE STORM God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Ps 46:1-3, 7
It had become quite obvious that the storm that had been threatening was going to hit before I reached home. Everything seemed to be going wrong just when I most needed things to go right. It seemed the turmoil inside should be enough. I was on my way home from the hospital where my father was in critical condition with death appearing imminent – the very thing I had often stated I just could not face. Coping with an actual violent, physical storm right now just seemed a little too much.
But the skies grew darker and then massive drops of rain splattered on my windshield. It seemed the weather was cooperating with the way I felt inside. The dark gloomy sky certainly was a good backdrop for my outlook at the moment, and the rumble of thunder provided good sound effects for my fears and foreboding. The splatter of the raindrops on the windshield only added to the blurring from my tears. Would I survive this particular storm on my personal horizon? The threatening winds grew worse; the dark skies grew darker and the noise of the thunder grew louder and closer, and then, just as I had expected, the fierceness of the summer storm struck in all of its fury. The heavens seemed to open and the deluge came. Torrents of water! One clap of thunder following another! One lightning bolt following another! The trees were bent almost to the ground from the wind, and then even large hailstones.
However, not one drop of rain touched me, no hail fell inside the car. I was inside and the storm was outside. I was untouched by the lightning, winds, rain, and hail. Although I was completely surrounded by the storm, it did not hurt me. I was sheltered, surrounded, protected. The storm slowed my progress a bit and I had to be extra careful to stay on the road; I could not see my way too clearly, but I made it home… dry, warm, and unharmed.
Just as I had foreseen, the storm of grief I saw on the horizon struck too, and I was engulfed with gloomy days, torrents of grief. I was battered with winds of trouble, but I had protection from that storm also. I was sheltered from the storm! Oh, I slowed down a bit, and had to be extra careful for a while. It took me some time to get new bearings and direction, but I came through unscathed as long as I remained in my shelter.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Ps 91:1,2
I was reminded of a little dog we had when our children were small. They called him a wiener dog, but this was a misnomer. He looked more like a corn dog… roly-poly, with short, short legs, very lazy and slow. But there was one thing that would make him move quickly. For some reason he was terrified of storms. He would be safe in his usual, cozy spot on the porch, but if a storm approached, one could sense his uneasiness as he grew more and more restless and then would begin cowering and quivering. Finally his fear would become too much for him, perhaps intensified by a particularly virulent clap of thunder or a falling limb, and it would propel him from his shelter. He would run as fast as his little short legs could carry him pell-mell into the storm … as though he could outrun it all. And all of the time, he could have remained dry, warm and safe.
The importance of remaining in our shelter was emphasized forcefully to me a while back. Thomas,* a relative of mine, was driving in downtown Houston, relatively safe inside his car. However there was a cab in front of him whose driver seemed to be deliberately trying to impede his progress. Thomas was in a hurry, but every time he would try to pass the cab, the driver would prevent his passing. The cab then remained stopped at a traffic light, even though the light had turned green, and this further exacerbated Thomas’ temper. Thomas responded by blowing his horn and whipping past the cab. But this was not the end of the duel with automobiles. The cab managed to pass Thomas again and provocatively stopped again. Thomas, reaching a peak of frustration, did the one thing that he should never have done. He got out of his vehicle. The cab driver did too, and with a gun in his hand. Minutes later, Thomas lay dying in the street and the cab driver was speeding away. Yes, Thomas, it was frustrating to have your progress impeded, and so very annoying, but if only you had stayed in your vehicle. Even sadder still, Thomas had been in a safer spot a few years before, living for God, going to church, but storms came and frustration, and Thomas thought he couldn’t make it. He could not see his way clearly, his progress seemed impeded, and he left his refuge. Oh, how different things could have been if Thomas had stayed in his shelter.
Trust in him at all times; ye people…God is a refuge for us. Selah. Ps 62:8
So quickly it seems our skies can turn to gray. The clouds hide the light of day, It seems they’ll never go away But remember, friend, there’ll come a brighter day. It’s the sun that is here to stay. Clouds always roll away!
(*name changed)
 Editor's Note: Mary Wolfe has been a preacher's wife for years, as the wife of Rev. Larry Wolfe. She is also an excellent teacher, as you will find out when you read her excellent lessons. Her ministry is a great blessing in a church filled with great preachers, the Pentecostals of Alexandria. We are happy to have Mary join the SGM staff as a regular featured writer.
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Mary's Musings
