ABOVE IT ALL

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Florida and Washington D.C. We found ourselves vacationing during Florida's tropical storm Andrea! Evidently, as a native Californian, I have truly been sheltered from any destructive climatic conditions. However, I was abruptly made aware of just how menacing and traumatic “mother nature” can be. We were caught off guard in a thunderstorm at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Orlando. A large group of us tourists huddled together under a gazebo as the rain poured down in torrents, lightening cracked, and thunder roared. I have never in my life heard thunder crash with such vehemence. The ground practically shook. Literal jagged bolts of lightening split the sky merely one second after each peal of thunder. I was no longer innocent as to how powerful and intimidating nature can be. While we were in “the sunshine state” the media warned of possible tornadoes and locals advised us that falling trees posed real danger. We survived the storm and traveled to Washington D.C. While in D.C. we continued to hear reports of how the fearsome weather was, chasing around and heading up the New England Coast. It was rather unclear as to where all the havoc was truly happening at any given time.

While waiting in the airport for our return flight home, there was a threat of a coming storm. We did depart, however, and soon climbed above the mire of sinister dark clouds in the sky. The climate above the ominous clouds was serene and placid. Our flight was quite smooth and peaceful and the sky above the clouds was blue. We sailed through the air and arrived home safely.

I thought back to my brush with a T-storm in Orlando. In the airplane, I was reminded of the fact that during the situational storms of our lives, we can ride high above the turmoil. When adverse life circumstances threaten and alarm us we can seek the Lord and be carried heavenward on wings of comfort and repose. Through praise and worship, reading God's Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship we can rise to an elevated level in the spiritual atmosphere.  I am so grateful for our Lord who bears us up beyond the emotional distress of negative circumstances.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 

whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” 

(Isaiah 26:3)

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, 

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

(Philippians 4:7)

By Cathy Friberg