My eyes were glued to the television. The house was dark and quiet with the exception of my husband’s snores and an occasional rumble of thunder in the distance. The storm was coming.
I leaned back in my chair, my body as heavy as my lids, and listened. “Cedartown, Lindale, Euharlee please take cover. Get into an interior room or basement away from windows. Pine Log, we expect to see this headed your way in the next twenty minutes…” Tornados ripped their way through my state as I watched on TV.
I found my city and stared at the deep red streaks across the radar map leading right to me. We were right in the path of the storm. My stomach flipped and fluttered at the thought of waking the kids to bring them downstairs. With two story walls of windows at the front and back of the house and no basement, I mentally walked through each room looking for a safe spot. After finding it, I wondered at the idea of pulling the crib mattress downstairs to cover the kids.
My attention turned back to the weather forecaster as she threw out words like Viper Tornado Index and death toll. The kitchen clock blurred. 1:03 a.m. Videos of monster-wide twisters from Alabama played across the screen. I blinked my eyes shut and opened them again to see the menacing red enemy creeping closer to my town. Blink. Closer. Blink. And closer.
One more blink – and the ugly splash of red was to the east of us. One county over was taking cover while crickets chirped outside my window.
The storm had passed us by.
Sometimes you find yourself in the eye of the storm, and others it marches right by. Praise God for the passing!
Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD.
Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4 NIV
Thankful the storm passed you by. We had really bad thunderstorms here in West TN, and we got in the closet several times when the sirens went off, telling us there was a possible tornado in our area. The sun is shining brightly this morning after three days of storms and sirens. Praying for those who are facing destruction and havoc in their lives today. May God use it for good in their lives and draw them to Him, if they do not know Him. Again, thankful that you and yours were spared. He truly does calm the storm sometimes and then sometimes He calms us in the midst of the storm(s) of life…Blessings…
Carol, thank God you and your family are safe! I cannot imagine how terrifying that must have felt. Even in Buffalo, NY, where I live, there was a tornado watch… but nothing as menacing as what you described. As you shared that scripture, I thought about how important it is for us to remember that our safety lies in God alone. How comforting to know that we can be right in the storm's path, and take cover in the God of our salvation! Thanks for this post. It has been a blessing to me, especially during this time of testing in my own life.