"A Good Home to Live In"

Once again my youngest daughter is teaching me life lessons...

A couple nights ago we had some pretty strong thunderstorms roll through town. The kids had already been put down to bed, and my wife and I were also just tumbling into ours, when these storms unleashed their fury. None of my children enjoy thunder and lightning. With every flash of lightning and clap of thunder Megan, our youngest, would cry out in fear and ask for reassurance that she was safe (the other two kids could sleep through a train wreck). Finally, we realized that this wasn't going to be a short storm, so we invited Megan to crawl into bed with us.

Megan quickly entered our room, blanket in tow, and scurried up the bed to plant herself safely in between us. We spent the next few minutes reassuring her that she was safe and the storm would not harm her. We acknowledged her feelings of fear and held her tight. When she first came into the bed she grabbed my hand and gripped my index finger so tightly I thought I might lose it. But I let her hang on. After a few minutes, her grip eased on my finger. Her body began to relax. Her breathing steadied. All was calm and quiet in our bed (even as the storm raged on outside). Then, in the silence, Megan quietly said, "This is a good home to live in."

I am convinced that God speaks to us through whatever vehicle he chooses. In my case, he seems to like to speak through my children. Remember, Megan is only three years old, and yet her words spoke a profound truth of encouragement to my heart. "A good home to live in." What makes up a good home? Obviously, in her mind a good home included feeling safe and protected. When she realized that we were speaking the truth to her about the storm not harming her, she relaxed, even though the storm didn't stop.

I pondered her words as I drifted off to sleep. I thought of my position as a child of God through faith in Christ. I'm his kid. But my life has had it's share of storms. Death of loved ones, secret addictions, lost jobs, bankruptcy, disappointments, and the list goes on. These storms, with their flashes of lightning and claps of thunder, have caused me to be terribly afraid at times. I wish I could say I cryed out to my heavenly Father each time. I didn't. But when I did I experienced the lesson my daughter was learning; His is a good home to live in.

I wonder what would happen if we believed God all the time. When God says, "Do not fear for I am with you," do we believe it when a pink slip is lying on our desk at work? When we are reminded that "God has not given [us] a spirit of fear," do we believe it when our spouse reveals their secret addiction(s)? What if when God promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," do we believe him when a loved one dies an untimely death? Is God telling us the truth? Is he good all the time? It takes faith to believe that God is who he says he is - all the time. But this faith gives us new eyes to see that, in spite of life's storms, God's family is a good home to live in.

What storms are raging in your life? Is your attention being drawn away by the bright flashes of lightning or deafening claps of thunder? Cry out to your heavenly Father. Run to him with your fears and doubts. Crawl up into his lap. Cling tightly to his hand of comfort. Listen attentively to his gentle words of assurance. Then rest peacefully. Life will always have storms. But as God's child, you can be sure you are safe. His is a good home to live in...

Resting despite storms,

jonathan