Surviving the Storms
Clint Taylor (Illinois, USA)




TODAY'S READING
Isaiah 40:25-31


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
I will put my trust and faith in God, who carries me through hard times.


PRAYER FOCUS
Those recovering from storms





[The Lord] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. - Isaiah 40:29 (NIV)



It was an unseasonably warm late-winter afternoon, and I was working in the yard. I had planted three small white oak trees the previous year, but now they were bent over and sad looking. They had tried to withstand the gusty winter winds on their own, but they weren’t strong enough. I hammered posts into the ground next to each tree and tied the trees to the posts, giving them the support they needed to stand up straight.

A few days later, I woke up to a significant storm. The temperature had dropped sharply, it was snowing, and the wind was gusting up to 40 miles per hour. I walked to the window and looked out at my trees to see how they were withstanding the storm. Each tree, now supported by the sturdy posts, stood straight in the howling winds.

Like my small trees, we aren’t equipped to stand on our own — especially when storms come. Thankfully, we have multiple “posts” to help support us during difficult times. God’s word, the Holy Spirit, and the love and care of our communities all help us endure. If we anchor ourselves to God, we can withstand the harshest storms.



TODAY'S PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for supporting us when the storms of life threaten us. May we find courage and peace in you. Amen.