“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 the tornados of life strike, I return to Psalm 46.  This psalm became one of my favorites during my journey with breast cancer. After my diagnosis and while I was waiting for the surgeons to schedule my double mastectomy, I walked, prayed and memorized Psalm 46. Day after day, I reminded myself that God was my refuge and strength and that He was ever-present. Cancer wasn’t the only tornado I faced. As I journeyed through cancer, I experienced sexual abuse memories. During that season, my husband was experiencing round the clock criticism in the church we were serving. Hate mail came to the house, a website was set up against us, and people passed petitions calling for Steve’s resignation.   It felt as though my life was truly crumbling.  God’s presence felt far away and the voice of fear screamed loudly in my ear.  But it was during that season that God became my refuge and strength.  I learned to praise Him by faith even when His presence felt miles away.  As I praised Him, I began to experience His sovereign refuge. When He strips it all away, He gives Himself. And He is after all what we crave most.

When the tornados of life strike, and they will, we are faced with a choice. We either cling to the truth that God is our refuge, or we chuck our faith.

Maybe you haven’t experienced the violence of a physical tornado but you feel like your personal life is being ripped apart by storms.  Perhaps God doesn’t feel ever-present.  Will you dare to cling?  Praise Him by faith that He is your refuge and an ever-present help in times of trouble. As you praise Him for who He is above the storms in your life, I believe the Holy Spirit will strengthen your faith. Try it – what do you have to lose?