Storms
Tonight, on the way home from soccer practice, we drove straight into a thunderstorm. Off to our right — over downtown Houston — the sky glowed with a stunning sunset. The buildings were bathed in golden light, but where we were driving, the rain poured and the wind whipped. Why? Because our Journey — from Campbell Road to League City — ran through the storm, not under the sunshine.
And that’s life.
We all go through storms. Sometimes, while we’re drenched and struggling, we’ll see others standing in the sunshine, carefree and joyful. And it can feel unfair. Why is the sun so close, but not for me right now?
My own “major storm” started in 2018 and lasted about five years. I began a new job — one I truly believe God led me to. Our industry is challenging in the best of times, but throw in a pandemic, and the stress multiplied. I became worn down, sometimes even depressed, and I didn’t always handle the job well. There were moments when the clouds broke and the sun shone through. Those gave me hope. But all too often, I’d find myself back in the middle of the storm. It was a long, difficult season.
And then, eventually, my journey in that storm ended — just like all storms do. But here’s the part that stuck with me: when I exited the storm, I could still see it behind me. I knew others were still in it, driving through the very rain I had just escaped.
That’s when I realized something important. When we come out of a storm, our job isn’t just to breathe a sigh of relief and move on. It’s to remember what it felt like — and then be there for others who are still in it. Our scars, our stories, our prayers, and even our presence can become a shelter for someone else.
Because storms don’t last forever. But while they’re raging, it means everything to know you’re not walking — or driving — through them alone. God is with us always, even during the storms. Below are verse to cling to when the storm rolls in.
“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” — Psalm 107:28–29
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” — Psalm 46:1–2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” — Isaiah 43:2
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” — Mark 4:39
