When the storm rolls in
As we left for dinner one eveningwhile on vacation, we heard rumbles of thunder and noticed encroaching darkclouds. We put our efforts in high gear to reach the car before the storm, and amile or so down the road after we left, the threatening clouds delivered ontheir promise of rain.
About then, three things happenedalmost simultaneously.
1. My phone rang in my purse onthe car floor, and I glanced down.
2. A fireball hit beside the car.
3. A tremendous explosion sounded overour car.
In my confusion about what washappening, I tried to connect the ringing phone to the explosion. It took me a momentto realize it was thunder. I didn’t see the fireball because I had looked downat my phone, but Jerry did. When I researched, I found fireball lightning is athing. Actually, some think it is as common as the jagged form we usuallyassociate with lightning. Theories abound as to why lightning takes that shape.Jerry said it was about as big as a basketball but radiated outward.
I’m being analytical about this now,but at the time I was shaking from the explosion. It was unlike any thunder I’veever heard. And we were that close, only feet away, from the lightning.
As a character on an old sitcomused to say, “It makes you think.”
Who knows how often we are thatclose to peril, but God in his mercy and grace spares us for his purposes.
But in reference to the sitcomcharacter’s words, the time to start thinking about those situations is notwhen they happen, but now, because we’re all going to face stuff at one time oranother.
“Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he ismy fortress, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6). The word shaken in theoriginal language means slip, totter, or fall. We need to live in such a waythat though we may shake, we will not fall, and the way we do that is through trustingin the Lord, studying His word, praying, and living in fellowship with otherChristians who keep us accountable.
The fact is sometimes thefireball does hit us. When it does, it’s good to remember our God will neverleave us or forsake us. Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked aroundin the fire, there was also another who looked like “a son of the gods.” Andthey came away from that time without even the smell of fire on them. (Daniel3).
If you’re trembling right now froma near miss or a direct hit, know God is with you. He can keep you fromfalling. As the apostle Paul said, God’s “strength is perfected in weakness.”
“Now unto him that is able tokeep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of hisglory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
When the storm rolls in, thelightning may hit close, but He’s even closer.
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
