A Shelter From the Storm

Dear Friends,

It has definitely been an interesting few months in the prairies.  From the late spring snowstorms that battered us in April and May, to the torrential rain in June that caused widespread flooding and damage, to the incessant severe thunderstorms this summer that rattle us from our sleep, the weather has certainly commanded our attention.  Not only in western Canada, but worldwide, the earth is shaking:  catastrophic floods in China and Pakistan; earthquakes in diverse places; intense heat in Russia and Europe; deadly cold (if you can believe it!) in South America. On top of these, we hear about wars and rumours of war coming out of the middle east and North Korea. 

Interestingly enough, during the last few days, I have been working on a new song based on Psalm 46.  It is a fitting exhortation to put our trust in God during these times of trial:

"God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear,
though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging."

Psalm 46:1-3

It is sometimes difficult to see the devastation these types of severe weather events cause.  Destroyed property, ruined crops, even tragic loss of lives.  And yet, for those of us who believe, there is a haven from the storm.  Though everything might one day be taken from us, there remains a place whose walls can never be toppled by wind, whose gates can never be damaged by hail, whose fruit can never be destroyed by drought.  We look towards the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High Dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at the break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 46:4-7

Thanks be to our God that we are drawing ever nearer to that "break of day," when the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2).  We know not the day or the hour, but we join our hope with the prophets and apostles of old who continually looked for the coming of the great and awesome King.  Then we will see the glorious fulfillment of the end of this Messianic Psalm:

"Come and see the works of the Lord,
the desloations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.
Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Psalm 46:8-11

Adonai is making himself known among the nations.  One of my favorite scripture verses from Isaiah echoes the closing verses of this Psalm:

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;
your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
in the morning my spirit longs for you.
When your judgements come upon the earth,
the people of the world learn righteousness."

Isaiah 26:8-9

Creation groans, calling out with the Spirit and the Bride, "Come!" Let us be still and know that He is God. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Melissa