God brings comfort in turbulent times, weather

Perry Wm. Bell
     All this cold and snow makes me dream of summer, and reading this text, I remember a canoe trip I took with a bunch of kids on the Yellowstone River.  Spending an entire week on the river, packing out with tents and food and no cell phones, we had an incredible time putting paddle to the river. Seventeen of us enjoying the beauty of God’s incredible creation.
    And then the thunderstorm hit. The river became swollen and we became caught in the current.  We paddled like crazy but couldn’t get to the banks.  Suddenly, right in the middle of the river, we saw a rocky little island with one tree on it and we paddled like crazy to get there.  We made it, docked our canoes, and made shelters by turning our canoes upside down and standing them on the paddles.  Dinner that night was soggy tortillas slathered with peanut butter and blueberries we had picked that morning.  But we were safe.
    Against flash floods, the pounding mid-day sun or attacks from wild animals, great rocks were of immense value to the ancient Hebrews.  And the were for us that day too!
    I wonder today how God has been a rock, a fortress for you.  For you when you came against something you couldn’t have faced up to on your own.  A time when no matter how hard you tried, you needed that extra help, that hand that moved you from being unsure to safety.  
    Reminds me of an old hymn, “On Christ the solid rock I stand... all other ground is sinking sand.” My prayer for you this day is that you are reminded too.
    Gracious Lord, be forever our rock, salvation and fortress that no matter how upset or chaotic our lives become we would not be shaken. Amen.