In The Midst Of A Storm

In the Midst of a Storm

Tornadoes. Floods. Earthquakes. Tsunamis. It seems every few months a natural disaster makes headlines. What do you do when you hear about a cataclysmic event? Charles Wesley wrote songs.

When an earthquake hit London, England, on February 8, 1750, Wesley wrote a series of hymns. His words encouraged the British people to repent of their sins and acknowledge God. He also affirmed God’s power to protect his people. Ironically, a month later when Wesley was teaching people his new songs, a second earthquake hit London. One of the hymns, which he called “Psalm 46,” says,

God, the omnipresent God, Our strength and refuge stands

Ready to support our load, And bear us in his hands:

Readiest when we need him most, When to him distressed we cry,

All who on his mercy trust, Shall find deliverance nigh.

Although the language doesn’t sound like modern English, Wesley’s powerful words remind us that God is everywhere and able to hold us in his hands. When we need him, he’s ready. Wesley spent much of his life writing words to draw people closer to God. During his career, he published the words to more than six thousand hymns and wrote the words to at least two thousand more songs. Some of his most famous hymns include “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

The next time you hear about something bad happening in the world, think about your response. Maybe you feel sorry for the people involved. Perhaps you pray for the victims or your family members in the area. Or maybe you become scared. All of those are natural reactions. Prayer is powerful, and God wants you to pray for those in need. But he doesn’t want you to be afraid. Psalm 46:2 says that, because God is our refuge, “we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.”

Daddy-Daughter Time

What is your favorite hymn? Some churches rarely sing these classic songs of the faith. If you don’t know many hymns, go to popularhymns.com. You’ll find clips of a hundred of the most popular hymns. Just click on a song and you can see all the lyrics. Read the lyrics to several songs, such as “Amazing Grace,” “Victory in Jesus,” or “I Surrender All.” As you read, thank God for helping you in times of trouble.

What’s The Word?

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.   Psalm 46:1-2