The Shelter Of God

The Shelter of God

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

Amish prayers have been passed down for generations. There are prayers about the storms of life and for the spring storms outside one’s door. Here is one such prayer:

Guard (preserve) us, Lord Christ, all together,

From fire, hail, and thunderclaps,

Protect all who are in the field,

So that the storm does not set them on fire.

Preserve cattle, men and grain,

Then young and old will praise and glorify Thee.

It’s a beautiful prayer, but how often can we relate? When one lives in a solid brick building, can work on the Internet without leaving one’s home, or simply has to jump into a car in a warm garage, physical storms can seem no more than minor inconveniences. But when, whether hundreds of years ago or today, one works in the fields and comes face-to-face with the elements, storms take on a new meaning.

Isaiah 25:4 wasn’t just for our ancestors; it’s for us, too: “You are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall.”

Faith is seeing a storm rage outside your window and believing that the Lord is able to protect all that you’ve worked so hard for. Hope is seeing the darkest clouds and knowing that the storm will not last forever. It will rage only for a time. True praise happens, when hail pounds and the rain pelts, as you thank God for being with you in the storm . . . and for the sunshine to come.

The same is true in the storms of our lives, when our livelihood hangs in the balance, or when our safety or that of our family is at risk. The bigger the problem, the harder it is to praise God, but our purest praise comes in the midst of those storms.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for being my shelter. Thank You for the rest I find in Your shadow, no matter what storms are raging.