Surviving Life’s Storms
I spent hours getting ready for our next predicted winter storm. A 20-degree temperature drop in just mere hours would turn the current torrential rain into treacherous ice and snow during the night.
My mind raced continually as I checked off my mental to do list of getting ready for storms, and I was running out of energy and daylight to get everything done. Soaked to the skin, I finally decided to leave a few things undone as I soggily trudged up the lane and into the house.
I woke often throughout the night and prayed for the safety of the sheep and other animals and that our power wouldn’t go out as it can do in the most challenging of winter weather. We have a generator but not a whole house generator because we can’t afford one.
As I lay there and prayed, I asked my Good Shepherd to calm the somewhat frenetic and nagging thoughts that stubbornly refused to let go of my conscious and subconscious mind. The words, “Peace be still” floated in and out of my thoughts, weaving their way into my weary soul. “Peace be still”.
Other memories began to overtake the frenzied thoughts that proclaimed (at least to me) the upcoming storm would be a total disaster. There was the time just last winter where we lost our furnace in February for a week and we used space heaters, so our water pipes didn’t break, our wood burner kept us warm enough. Just last winter.
How quickly I’d forgotten the many other literal and figurative storms of life my Good Shepherd had already gently and faithfully led me through — devastating deaths, grief, medical and family issues and other difficult life situations.
I thought about my sheep again and how they are so peaceful during a storm, lying contentedly in their warm bedding, without a care in the world. They aren’t frenetic or frantic or stressed because they know they are safe — their Shepherdess will take care of them. I have always cared well for and protected them so there’s no reason to believe that I won’t always be there to protect and provide for them even in the midst of the storms.
At the first light of day, I opened the front door, bracing myself for a deluge of ice and snow. But there wasn’t even one snowflake on the ground, neither was there any ice. As is often the case, all my stressful, anxious, frenetic thoughts were for naught.
I finally realized that while I did need to get ready physically for the storm as much as I could — the actual things I had control over — I didn’t need to obsess about the storm itself, the very thing I had no control over. “Peace be still” meant sitting in the midst of that storm, remembering the storms of the past my Good Shepherd has brought me through and believing this storm’s outcome will be no different.
My frenetic or frantic thoughts and inclinations get me nowhere and only leave me feeling more stressed. It’s only when I consciously choose to remember and internalize the fact my Good Shepherd has always cared well for and protected me, that there’s no reason to believe He won’t always be there to protect and provide for me even in the midst of the storms — I can honestly say down to my soul, “Peace be still”.
Jackie Deems copyright 2023
Be not dismayed, though it seems like the storms will never end
Be not afraid, when it seems like you haven’t got a friend
The storms are raging, you don’t have to run and hide
The Lord is faithful to heal the lonely heart inside
PEACE BE STILL
The Father loves you
PEACE BE STILL
The Father loves you
And no matter where you are
Or where you’ve been
I am sure He wants you to know
He won’t let go
Be not dismayed, though it seems like the hurt will never end
Be still and know the Father will never let you go
The pain is raging, you don’t have to run and hide
The Lord is faithful to heal the hurting heart inside
PEACE BE STILL
The Father loves you
PEACE BE STILL
The Father loves you
And no matter where you are
Or where you’ve been
I am sure He wants you to know
He won’t let go
song written by Al Denson