What a fierce storm last night. Between the rain, thunder, lightening and wind there was a lot of activity in our home. Having five dogs in our family and three being scared to death of storms made last night not a lot of fun. Thankful for my two youngest girls, Bella and Libby who were so brave and did not make a sound.  Our two boys are the loudest followed by our oldest who is the sweetest Queen imaginable. Charlie Brown, our chocolate lab went upstairs to sleep with our son, Joshua. Sadie, the queen and our older boy, Freeway, ended up in bed with me. I could feel their bodies trembling in the bed. They kept getting closer and closer to me. Both of them ended up snuggling right beside me. After about ten minutes the trembling stopped. I could hear the big sighs and soon they were both sound asleep. They found their comfort and their refuge laying beside me.

As soon as they went to sleep,  since I was WIDE AWAKE  and did not dare move, I started to think.  What a lesson for all of us. In the storms of life, if we would only run to the one that gives us shelter. There are so many  metaphors that  refer to God’s protection for his people. He is our Shield, Fortress, Hiding Place, Keeper, Refuge, Rock, , Shelter, and Stronghold.

God wants us to run to Him in every situation of our life.  There are three scriptures  that I remind myself and  hold onto during the storms. Sometimes, I feel like I am holding on for dear life. But, I have learn to look at it from a different perspective the older I get. HE is holding onto me. I might loose my way but He is faithful and will never let go of my hand.

YOU are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalms 32:7

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling, He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalms 27:5

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield  and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 18:2

I love the last one so much. King David uses the word fortress .  The word fortress means a place of defense, a place so strengthened that an enemy could not approach it, or where one would be safe. The Lord has been my fortress on so many occasions in my life. When I am in His presence NOTHING can harm me.

May we cling to these scriptures. May we write them on our hearts. So that when the storms of life come we can speak them to our storms. KNOW that the storms will come, the rains will fall, but in your darkest hour of all, we can lift our eyes and KNOW that HE IS GOD! We can stand on the rock of our salvation. So the next time you will stay in His perfect peace and not have a three dog night ~