Who's in the Middle of the Storm?
Posted in Daily Focus on Saturday, June 21, 2014
"I, even I, am he that comforteth you" (Isaiah 51:12a).
Summer storms were always a scary time for my young children. When the weather turned blustery on hot summer nights, I usually heard my two oldest children running down the hallway to my bedroom. Even though they had learned Bible stories of Jesus' power over storms and problems, their little hearts were simply too frightened by the strength of a threatening storm. Understanding their fears, I would let them crawl into my bed while the lightning cracked and the thunder boomed. Then, after the storm passed, I would carry their sleepy little bodies back to their own beds.
One night during a storm, I felt God's leading to teach my children an important spiritual lesson. Instead of allowing them to crawl into bed with me, I gently took them back to their room and tucked them into bed. As I sat with them, I taught a little song to comfort their fears while the storm raged outside. The words were simple enough for a four and five year old and talked about not being afraid since God is always with us.
As we sang the words together during the storm, my children experienced God's courage to face their fears. Although they didn't fall back to sleep right away, they were able to wait out the storm without terrified tears. More importantly, they learned whenever they were afraid in life, they could go to their heavenly Father for protection.
Are you in the middle of a storm right now in your life? Maybe you're facing the dark and painful moments of grief or loneliness. Whatever the problem, God promises in His Word that He will be with you (Hebrews 13:5b). Like a loving heavenly Father, He gently holds and comforts you when the darkness seems overwhelming or when the storm's power rages over you. Run to Him now, and you'll also discover He's in the middle of your dark storm. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
Heavenly Father, I feel so scared right now, and like a child, I want to panic. I claim Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me. Please, hold me right now, Father, and keep me safe. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(16 comments)
WENDY M 06/17/2009 10:37:47
I would love to know what you sang to your kids. We're experiencing this right now. I'm trying to teach them to pray, but the concept of God is still a work in progress with them.
JANET T 06/17/2009 10:57:51
The song I sang was "Who's is the Middle of the Dark?" The words go like this:
Who's in the middle of the dark? God is.
Who's in the middle of the dark? God is.
Who's in the middle of the dark? God is.
I'm not afraid 'cuz God is in the dark.
Who's in the middle of the storm? God is.
Who's in the middle of the storm? God is.
Who's in the middle of the storm? God is.
I'm not afraid 'cuz God is in the storm.
Who's in the middle of my heart? God is.
Who's in the middle of my heart? God is.
Who's in the middle of my heart? God is.
I'm not afraid 'cuz God is in my heart.
EILEEN M 06/21/2010 03:58:05
Ditto! My family loves to pray during thunderstorms!
JENNIFER R 06/21/2011 05:52:26
Thank you- that is a great song!
TAMARA D 06/21/2011 05:52:54
I am truly amazed at how God's timing to speak with his children can be ~ It was like he was speaking this Daily Focus out loud to me this morning. I truly felt the Lord's presence. I am so thankful he has willing vessels such as the ones who provide the Daily Focus to share God's word with the world. Thank -you.
CARLA D 06/21/2011 08:01:38
A very timely word... Thank you.
SHARON C 06/21/2011 08:30:22
I totally agree that listening to God's leading when He prompts you to teach your child something is the best 'Parenting guide'. And I believe that what you did was the completely right thing to do in your situation, because you heard Him prompting you to teach them that.
However (you knew that was coming) I think we should also realize that our children learn their relationship with God by interacting with us first. If they run to you, and you take them back to their bed and expect them to 'tough it out on their own' - what are they learning about GOD!?!?
Again, there is a time and a place for everything, and if God truly prompted you to teach them this at this time, then obviously it was the right thing to do. I'm just concerned that other's will generalize and decide that their children running to them in the night is a bad thing, and not extend that loving touch that children sometimes just need.
Perhaps I am a bit sensitive to this particular subject right now, in that I have never had children who ran to me on stormy nights, they were not frightened by them, they were just a part of life - most of their life has been lived in the Pacific NW, where thunder storms are just that - thunder storms and don't carry severe weather issues. However, since April 27th, when the tornadoes that ravaged Alabama destroyed our new home, they have a keen respect for the power of nature and they DO want to be near me during storms. I like having them near, too. We cuddle, and pray and sing together and ride out the storm together.
I guess, as parents, we just have to guard against that 'selfish desire' to have 'me-time' and not have our children intrude on that, and in the process accidentally teach them that they can't come to us with their problems. From that, they may learn that they can't come to God.
When my children come to me in the storm now, we go, together, to God, and rest in the knowledge that HE is in the storm, and HE will carry us through ANY storm that He allows to hit us, and use it to grow our faith in Him, just as He has done in our family the last few months.
So, listen to God's prompting, please, and let HIM help you know if/how your children need to learn the lesson of going to Him with their problems. Only HE knows when the perfect time is for them to learn that.
This is an awesome devotion, but I'm just concerned that people will generalize and apply it in situations where God may not intend it to be applied.
LINDSEY C 06/21/2011 16:33:24
We did a similar thing a couple nights ago when my 2 yo was afraid of "monsters" in her room. I told her to pray, "Go away monsters in Jesus's name, Amen!" She repeated it over and over again until she felt enough peace to fall asleep by herself. She has been waking up a couple nights a week coming into our room shaking, so I helped her to go to God herself.
JEN S 06/23/2011 07:05:37
Love this song! My 7 year old is very afraid of storms and he always wants to go down to the basement and wait till it's over. We do read some passages of scripture from the bible and that seems to help, but to add this song would be wonderful!
TAMARA D 07/10/2011 09:36:16
The Bible verses are what I focused on and the writers story goes along with them and is a great example ~ The writer clearly states ~ she gently took them to their room and she sat with them and sang the song with them. I think all is well if you read the devotion carefully.
LYNN D 06/21/2012 02:49:10
This is totally God working through you today!!!! I, myself, as an adult am experiencing a \"storm\"! Found out yesterday that my husband has some heart problems and I immediatly paniced! God used you to remind me today that He wil NEVER leave me and that I must trust in Him! Sometimes as an adult, you want the power and the control and you forget that HE is the only one with the power and control! Thank you Father for sending this message to me today when I needed it and You the most!
KATHY S 06/21/2012 06:32:41
I\'m going to sing the last verse of your song! Hoping and trusting that God is not only spiritually in my heart (not sure if I\'m saying that right).
But that God is literally in my heart making sure everythings going smoothly and keeping me alive.
My daily storm now is that I must live, everytime my face gets red and tingly, and my chest has pains, I fear that I\'ll be back in the hospital again.
Then I further worry that my Mom will break down and there won\'t be anyone to take care of my precious son.
I have no fear of death itself, I think that being with Jesus will be the most wonderful, amazing thing ever. I just am not ready to leave my son. He needs me, more than most can understand.
This has been haunting me since I had my surgery. I\'ve been praying, and my son really prays hard that my heart disease will be healed, and that cancer will not take anyone in our little family (my 48 year old brother got cancer at 40, my Dad died from cancer). So these things are prevalant in our family. Heart disease. running rampid in our family, all ages.
But, God is Bigger than all disease and sickness.
So I need (like the little children) to start finding a way to comfort and reaasure myself that I\'ll be o.k. with Jesus by my side.
Lynn D. I\'ll pray your husband will be just fine too.
Sharon C. Do what you need to do with your kids to feel safe. After a Tornado rips through, or any disaster there is always a fear. Everyone has different things to deal with at different times. Do what\'s best for you and your children.
We had a fire here 7-8 years ago, I still have a packed suitcase in my living room, it\'s silly, but I don\'t wan\'t us to run out the door with nothing ever again.
God did provide completely, but it\'s still nice having a few items that fit you to put on instead of wearing what you were sleeping in when the fire started for 2 or 3 days. Psychological.
Have a Blessed and happy day everyone!!
And Thank you Jesus for another day!!
KIM P 06/21/2012 08:17:11
Ty, I needed to hear this very badly. Amazing on his timing, :)
TERESA S 06/22/2012 18:27:16
Kathy S
I believe God does not take one until one\'s job on earth is done. Everything works for the best for those that love GOd. I pray for you and yours.
KATHY S 06/23/2012 16:48:26
Thank you Teresa. I\'m going to believe on that as well.
Amen.
Rebecca Adkins 06/23/2014 13:15:39
This is a beautiful picture of a loving heavenly Father. For anyone reading this comment, please pray for my son, Zachary, and I, Rebecca, to personally know and receive God's love and forgiveness. I want us to be able to trust Him with our lives and eternities and surrender to Him obediently. Thank you to everyone who takes this request seriously and lifts us up to God in prayer.