Helper and Shield

When I was in college, several of my friends and I decided we wanted to get out and enjoy a beautiful Spring day in the great green forests at the base of Mt. Rainier. Finals were approaching, and we needed to blow off some steam and expend some physical energy, rather than burying our heads in the books yet again. So, we piled into a paneled station wagon (picture the Brady Bunch family car), and headed off. It was a beautiful morning on Campus, sun shining, the day warming nicely.

Today, I don't recall our exact destination. I just remember that we shared lots of laughter. Being the Pacific Northwest, weather up in the foothills of Rainier was quite different than that in Tacoma. It was cool and cloudy, but hey, we were young and were keeping quite warm as we hiked and played. Someone was smart enough to pack a couple bottles of water, some snacks from the cafeteria, and some big green garbage bags in the one backpack we had brought with us.

A couple miles into our hike, the Northwest skies suddenly let loose, first with a light drizzle, and then a steady downpour. Picture it. We had no umbrellas. We all wore shorts and t-shirts. Some of us wore wool socks with sandals. I don't think we ever even made it to the end of the trail. We just turned around and headed back to the car as quickly as we could, ducking under trees as we were able in the biggest downpours. The boys were gentlemen, and let the two girls don the garbage bags over our shirts, so as to avoid an embarrassing wet t-shirt episode. We eventually made it back to the refuge of the car, soaked to the skin and chilled, but laughing all the way home!

Sometimes in life, we get caught in a storm, don't we? The rain pours down, and we are drenched. There is no direct escape from the rain storm. The only option is to keep going. If you stop and sit down and weep, you'll just get mired in the mud that pools around you, you'll catch a chill, and you won't get through the storm any quicker.

But, God offers us refuge and shelter through the storm. He is like those mighty, tall Northwest pine trees that towered over us to provide shelter during the heaviest downpours. He surrounds us like those makeshift garbage bag rain suits. The refuge may not look as pretty as you want it to, but it provides just what you need.

Today, remember that God promises to be your shelter and your refuge in the storm, as long as it lasts.

"Oh Israel, trust the Lord!

He is your helper; he is your shield.

O priests of Aaron, trust the Lord!

He is your helper; he is your shield.

All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!

He is your helper; he is your shield."

Psalm 115:9-11