A Shelter in the Time of Storm

O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

I had a very vivid dream last night in which I was in the middle of a tornado. I was at a camp, hunkered down under a table in the dining hall, when a huge tree crashed through the window. In my dream, I actually saw the tree come flying through the air and then torpedo through the building. (I said it was vivid!) In any case, I woke up singing this old hymn and have been thinking about it all day.

As this hymn says, in Jesus Christ we can be secure no matter what we’re facing. He is a Rock in our weary land, our shelter in our stormy times. Indeed, the prophet Isaiah foretold that Jesus was coming for that reason: to be a refuge and a shelter from the storm.

Behold, a king will reign righteously and princes will rule justly. Each will be like a refuge from the wind and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land. Isaiah 32:1-2

When you’re safe in a shelter, you don’t leave in the middle of a storm. Although the storm rages around you, you’re safe there, and you want to stay. When you dwell in the shelter of the Lord, you abide in His shadow. His shadow means His care and protection.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.
Psalm 91:1-3

This hymn was said to be a favorite song of the fishermen on the north coast of England, who were often heard singing it as they approached their harbors in the time of storm. Whatever you are facing today, whether your storms are from the weather, from relationships, or from circumstances, you can be sure that Jesus will be your Rock in this weary land. Run to Him, and let Him be your shelter today.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. Psalm 5:11

A Shelter in the Time of Storm
Vernon J. Charlesworth

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

Refrain
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes afright,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat,
A Shelter in the time of storm
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,
A Shelter in the time of storm;
Be Thou our Helper ever near,
A Shelter in the time of storm.

It is Well with my Soul

I’m sure many of you know the story of Horatio Spafford, the writer of this hymn. He wrote these words after two great tragedies in his life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ru¬ined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, Spafford sent his wife and four daughters ahead of him for a family vacation, while he finished up business at home. While crossing the Atlantic, all four of his daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived. Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words.

I’ve often wondered how someone who has just gone through all of that could possibly write “It is well with my soul.” Sometimes I’ve been unable to even sing the words sincerely. I was thinking about this last night as I sang this to myself, sincerely this time. I’m sure it was the Spirit of God who prompted me to realize this important truth: it can be well with my soul when I am confident that our Sovereign God is in control. Only then, whatever my lot, can I say “It is well with my soul.”

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. Psalm 103:19

It is well with my soul because I know my God is on His throne, and He is not wringing His hands over whatever is happening here on Earth. He is in full control, and anything that happens to His children has been “filtered through His fingers of love,” as Kay Arthur says. He has a purpose and a plan for whatever challenges and trials he sends our way. And we can be confident in our eternal hope regardless of what grief or pain crosses our path in our earthly life.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8:18


It is Well with my Soul
Words by Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

To God be the Glory

Damaris Carbaugh was singing this as I drove to work today. (She wasn't in the car with me, just on the radio!) Singing along to this great hymn was a wonderful way to start the day. God certainly is worthy of all the glory and praise that we have to offer. He has done great things!

To God be the Glory
Words by Fanny Crosby

To God be the glory, great things He has done;

God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we cannot comprehend. Job 37:5

For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,You who have done great things; O God, who is like You? Psalm 71:19

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8

Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Ephesians 5:2

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7

To every believer the promise of God;

From the descendants of this man [David], according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. Acts 13:23-24

The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.
Acts 10:43

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. I Cor. 2:12-13

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:38-39

And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:6-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Phil. 4:4

But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Romans 6:22

In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:2-3

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. I Thess. 4:16-17

And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." Rev. 5:13

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.