Saved From the Storm
The evening had been warm and sultry that everyone was hot and tired. So was little Jessie; and when mother told her to go to bed, she was actually glad to go.
But when the light was put out, she was just a little bit frightened, for from far away in the distance came the long rolling of thunder, and now and then the whole room was lighted up with the bright flashes of lightening.
Jessie did not like storms; so she shut her eyes tight and said a little prayer, asking Jesus to take care of her.
Then the rain came. Down and down it came, and while it was raining little Jessie went to sleep.
How long she slept she did not know. It seemed like a minute, though it must have been hours. Then something woke her, something startling and terrifying. It was mother's voice, and she was frightened.
“Jessie, Jessie, quick, wake up!” mother was saying.
As Jessie awoke she heard another sound, the most dreadful noise she had heard in all her life. It was a terrible roaring like one great peal of thunder that would not stop.
Jessie was very much frightened now.
“Oh, mama, mama, what's the matter? What is it?” she cried.
It's a tornado, and it's right upon us,' said mother. “We must pray, darling. I will wake daddy and get him to pray, too.”
Daddy awoke with a start, and jumped out of bed. He guessed at once what was wrong.
They knelt down by the bed, mother on one side of Jessie, daddy on the other, their arms crossed over the little girl's head as though to protect her from danger.
By this time the fearful roaring seemed right overhead, and there were other sounds now as of windows being shattered and things being torn to pieces.
“Dear Jesus, please take care of us,” one of them began.
Crash! Another awful sound told them that the house on the other side had gone now.
Crash! Now it was the house across the street.
“O Jesus, help! Save us, please save us!”
So they prayed, while all the time those loving, sheltering arms were close over Jessie's head.
And above those arms were other arms, stronger still and yet more loving—the everlasting arms of God.
When the storm had passed, the light of morning revealed a scene of awful desolation, with trees uprooted and the wreckage of houses strewn all around. For a block and a half every building had been smashed, with one exception—the house where Jessie, mother and daddy had prayed.
Today another storm is raging in this old world. Mother and daddy are worried about it, and maybe they have already told you how serious it is. Perhaps you have read about it in the newspapers or listened to someone talking about it over the radio.
In some ways it is worse than a tornado, for as it roars over nation after nation, it is leaving behind a terrible trail of ruin and sorrow. It is making many people homeless, and poor, and very, very sad.
In many countries millions have lost almost everything they possessed as the hurricane of war has struck them.
It is enough to frighten anyone, but if we love Jesus, we need not be afraid, for we can hear His lovely voice speaking words of comfort and cheer. Even now He seems to be saying to us; “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10.
Fear not! How he says it over and over again!
“Fear not: for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 43:1.
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
He does not want us to be afraid. Rather, He wants us to trust Him always, with all our hearts. No matter what happens, He would have us keep calm and confident, believing that in His own good time He will cause the right to triumph and peace to prevail.
The He whispers to us precious promises:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. . . .Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day. . . .Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” Psalm 91:1-10.
“Underneath are the everlasting arms,” He assures us. Arms of love, sheltering love, under us and over us always, just like the arms that sheltered little Jessie.
As the storm comes nearer, Jesus will not forget His promises. And let us not forget to pray, keep on praying till the skies are clear again.
Then one day the storm will pass. Peace will come again, glorious, eternal peace; and we shall see, so clearly then, how Jesus has done all things well.