I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalms 59:16 NRSV
Having grown up in the Midwest, tornadoes were normal. Each summer, we'd likely have two or three warnings. They are far less common in New England, but one touched down in Easton last Saturday. Thankfully there were no casualties, but lots of property damage and power outages.
When freak weather events like this happen, we are thankful for our places of refuge–those places we feel protected and safe, riding it out until the storm passes. Afterward, we are grateful it's over, and despite whatever damage and stress we may have experienced, we made it.
We also experience spiritual storms, some with far more intensity and devastation than a tornado. In these times of anxiety, we can take refuge in our compassionate Christ. Though the storm still rages, we experience serenity in our faith in him. We have confidence that Jesus will see us through. Once it's passed, in the sunshine of the glorious morning, we give Christ thanks–maybe even with a song.
Morning Has Broken (United Methodist Hymnal #145)
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word!
Sweet the rains new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day
Jesus, thank you for being our place of refuge. Thank you for seeing us through our storms into the newness of the morning. We sing praises to your precious name. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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