And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
My family is full of sun worshippers, but I love rainy days. To me, nothing is better than spending a cozy day inside, listening to the rain fall softly from a gray sky.
But even more than listening to the rain, I love walking in it. I love standing under the protection of big umbrella, safe and dry, while the world around me is soaking wet.
It occurred to me that this is a perfect picture of how we’re supposed to walk with God. He also shelters us as we move about our days. When we put our faith in Him, He is our shield, our umbrella in a wet world. The storms still come. But when we’re sheltered by His peace and the knowledge of His perfect love, we’re safe and dry.
Sometimes I choose to step out from under that umbrella and start off on my own. When our son was in the military, I did that a lot at first. I’d step outside that covering of peace, thinking if I looked the storm full in the face, I could somehow control it.
That was when I got into trouble. I wasn’t protected anymore but totally exposed to the elements. What started as an attempt at coping by myself, quickly became nothing more than a miserable situation. I found myself cold, wet and exposed. What was once beautiful—watching our son find his own path—became scary away from the safety of God’s peace.
But God was always there, waiting for me to return. He gathered me into his arms, beneath the safety of that umbrella, and all the fear drained away.
So where do you find yourself today? Are you standing in the rain, cold and wet? If so, rush back to the shelter of the Father. Let him dry you off, calm your fears and once again give you the covering of His perfect peace.
