The Merciful Protection of God
He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. Psalm 147:10,11
As is typical for many of us in the retail business, I work almost every Sunday. This particular Sunday was no different, though my day ended at 1 p.m.
Thunderstorms were due to hit our area that afternoon, though initially it was thought that they would arrive in the late afternoon. So I was surprised to hear faint rumblings of thunder as I began my walk home! It was also still bright and sunny; not what you would normally expect with an impending storm.
It is only a 10 minute walk for me to get to work. Yet the thunder kept getting louder, and I kept looking around for signs of the storm on the horizon. I did begin to notice a growing darkness as I looked to the North and West, though very small.
By the time I got home, the thunder was beginning to sound threatening. These “signs” that I had observed were telling me that this could be a very strong and dangerous storm; so I began to pray. I asked God for His mercy, and protection for our home and all those within our trailer park (some 200 people approximately). I also asked protection while I showered. Showers are not advised during lightning activity, as water is an excellent conductor of electric current! Yet the storm was still not directly over us, and I was very sweaty. Needless to say, I was only 2-3 minutes in the shower!
It is also not advised to have your computer on, as an electric surge could fry all your circuits. Yet it seemed advisable for me to have it on briefly, so I would get better information on the storm from the radar, and any relevant weather advisories. It was alarming to see that our area had been issued a tornado warning with this storm’s approach! Yes, I prayed even more!
The Bible tells us to “Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”—Philippians 4:6. Some would trust in their own “preparedness” for facing such storms. Maybe they prepared by having emergency supplies. Perhaps they buy a very comprehensive insurance for health, life, or home. Or maybe they take pride and comfort in actual training that they have taken, “just in case” such a calamity might occur. Our Lord tells us to be “careful” for nothing, but rather to trust in Him. All of our best-laid plans will fail, unless we have God’s blessing. God wants His children to realize their own helplessness, and to be utterly dependent upon Him. I am not saying to never do anything in preparing for such circumstances! What I am saying is that our first move of preparation ought to be in prayer—God will guide us in wisdom, and grant us His blessings; especially many unseen ones (Hebrews 11:1). Within the limitations of our flesh, we will never know the great many ways in which the Lord has helped us!
When the storm finally arrived, it began merely with a gentle but steady rain for about 10 minutes. Then it became stronger, with gusty winds; yet nothing on the scale of what we have already received this summer. The total time of the storm being directly over us was 35-40 minutes, providing eight-tenths of an inch of much needed rain. Praise God for His protection! Still, from my particular vantage point, the deliverance seemed rather unspectacular. Until I became informed of what others had been through, I could not be aware of just how great a protection the Lord had provided…
More than $2 million dollars in damage had been estimated in our county; over 3,600 lightning strikes were recorded, with wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour! My wife was in contact with one who had a tree fall on her house, and another who had counted more than 100 trees fallen on his property! Also, quite sadly, at least one woman lost her life from the storm. Hearing the crash of the storm in her back yard, she stepped outside to view what had happened; the ground was charged with electricity from a power line that had been knocked down from a fallen tree. She was immediately electrocuted.
We will not always be aware of the ways in which God protects us, but sometimes He allows us to see it. We are to believe in faith all that He has provided for us in His Word, and build our lives upon that rock. It is good to walk in the Lord’s blessing, near to Him.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:24,25
WARNING: To avoid Satan’s snares and deceptions, return to the pure Word of God; which is the King James Bible. Revised translations are not small word alterations meant to bring clarity! Major doctrinal changes have occurred, which will tend to bring doubt and destroy your faith. To follow these new “versions” of the truth, is to build your spiritual house upon sand, and become as the ones reflected in Matthew 7:21-23. Please use this entire passage, Matthew 7:21-27.
Satan means to deceive you into sincerely following his alternate “truth.” You are really being set up to fall, and serve the antichrist.
Pray and seek God diligently in this matter; for time is short. See also our Word of God section and the section on A Sure Salvation vs. Eternal Security.