Stormy Weather

On a day off from work at summer camp, I decided to spend my free time with family at home. While I stopped at a gas station along the way, I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket. I pulled it out to read an emergency alert: “Flash flood warning until 5:00 p.m.” I looked up and saw sunny skies overhead and friendly clouds floating through the air. I laughed and continued driving. Slowly, however, the sunny skies gave way to gray, billowing clouds. With only thirty minutes left in my drive, I noticed light rain falling on my windshield. Light rain turned to a steady downpour.

Now the gray, billowing clouds turned to green, swirling clouds. Eventually, sheets of rain blinded my vision as I slowed to a crawl, passing parked vehicles along the shoulder of the road. Hands trembling and heart pounding, I reassured myself, “I’ve driven through blizzards worse than this; a little rain won’t hurt anything.” Suddenly, I no longer had full control of my vehicle. The wind shook my car, the road became a river, and the green sky glared at me. My mind racing, I pulled to a halt behind a stopped vehicle and thought, Is this a tornado? Could a giant piece of debris come crashing through my windshield? Is the ditch safer than my car? I sat, listening to the squeak of my windshield wipers as they frantically but uselessly pushed against the rain.

God, I don’t know what’s happening out there, but please keep me safe! I can’t tell you that I had instantaneous peace about the storm or that the rain stopped falling that very moment. No, I still didn’t know what might become of me. My car continued wobbling in the wind, and my heart continued racing.

Eventually, I made it out of the storm alive and well. Driving the rest of the way home, I saw trees uprooted, lawns flooded, and run-down barns collapsed. As I pulled into my grandparents’ driveway, I breathed another quick prayer: “Thanks for Your protection, God.” Reflecting on that experience, I’ve made a spiritual connection: God wants to guide us through all our storms. You might be dealing with storms —literal or metaphorical— right now. If so, I’d encourage you to always look to Christ for protection and strength.

Britni Conrad