In the Storm

The levees have failed and New Orleans is flooding again, a bus carrying elderly evacuees from a Houston nursing home burst into flames on a Dallas highway killing at least 24 passengers, millions of people sit on Texas highways hoping to outrun another monster hurricane...when will it end?  What stories will we hear in the upcoming days about the hours of raging winds and pouring rain that are still to come?  Where is God in all of this?  Where is God in all of our "storms?"

Casting Crowns has a new CD out called Lifesong (see here).  One of my favorite songs on the CD is Praise You in This Storm.  It speaks powerfully to where God is in all of the storms life throws our way.  These are the lyrics:

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”, and it’s still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I think the songwriter reminds us how often we look for God to rescue us from the storm, when what He promised was to always be with us in the storm(Deuteronomy 31:6) Let's pray for those folks in Texas and Louisiana to feel God's presence with them tonight...it going to be a long one.

Comments

[Neil]

What a wonderful song. Yet there are those who feel that God never comes through for them in this life. There are those who always ask why? I know you tnink I am obsessed with U2 but Bono writes in his song Peace on Earth about how 'hope and history won't rhyme.
There is a time coming when we will see the God's kingdom established here on earth but there is a 'now but not yet' element to it all. With that in mind we pray as Jesus taught us, 'Thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' What powerful and amazing words we are to pray.
I love your blog, its great to hear your thoughts on the issues, don't let anyone silence you.