Right now, in Texas as most of the country it's hot. We are in a strong upper level heat wave. Today, however, I'm thinking about storms. Today, that might be hard to imagine. Some might even hope for a good North Texas thunderstorm. If you're from Tuscaloosa, Joplin, New Orleans, or Houston, you know all too well about the storm of destruction. Not all storms have to do with weather. In these hard economic times, you may be in a financial storm of destruction. Notifications of job termination, sudden unemployment, or unexpected health expenses can spiral out of control like a storm. People try to manage these kinds of storms different ways. Some blame others for their problems, some self-medicate, others turn to eradic and self-destructive behaviors, still others turn to depression and hopelessness. The good news is there is a better alteranative. The writer of Psalm 57 had a plan for hardship. Psalm 57:1 says that he was going to take refuge in the Lord until the storm of destruction passed by. I think the ESV captures this idea well. It may be true that you are in a strom that is destructive, relationally, financially, or otherwise. The Lord is available! This writer understood that he could turn to the Lord in times of difficulty. Every believer knows this, but somehow we allow ourselves to think that we are the only ones who are suffering. It's time to turn to the Lord with that trial! He is more than able to help and more than willing to render aid. There's a second part of this. The Psalmist knew the reality that the storm, though destructive, was not permanent. Here is the hope. The storm will come to an end. So how long can the Lord be trusted in a trial? Until the storm passes by. If you don't believe me, then maybe you'll believe Vernon Charlesworth. Vernon was the headmaster at Charles Spurgeon's school. Written over 150 yeas ago, his words today illustrate the power of Psalm 57.
The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide—a shelter in the time of storm, secure whatever ill betide—a shelter in the time of storm.
A shade by day, defense by night—a shelter in the time of storm; no fears alarm, no foes affright—a shelter in the time of storm.
The raging storms may round us beat—a shelter in the time of storm; we’ll never leave our safe retreat—a shelter in the time of storm.
O Rock divine, O Refuge dear—a shelter in the time of storm; be Thou our helper ever near—a shelter in the time of storm.
Chorus: O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, a weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land—a shelter in the time of storm.
If you're in a storm today, turn to Jesus till the storm passes by.
Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990), 212.
