Storm Thoughts: A Shift in Perspective

It’s one o’clock in the morning, and it’s been storming for quite some time. I live in a region familiar with violent weather—tornadoes, hurricanes, and destructive winds. We've weathered Hurricane Hugo and seen trees crash down onto our home and cars. So when the thunder rumbles and the wind howls, my body knows fear before my mind can catch up. My first instinct is always anxiety—dreading what could fall, what could break, what could be lost.

Tonight, I woke to that familiar sound: wind, rain, thunder. And as usual, anxiety began to creep in. I braced myself, thinking of trees and rooftops, imagining worst-case scenarios. But then—something shifted.

I began to consider the storm not as a threat, but as a display, a demonstration of power. Not the random power of destruction, but the purposeful power of God. Only He can create a wind so strong that massive trees bend and sway, yet stay rooted. Only He can choreograph the smaller trees to move with such rhythm, such grace, as though dancing with the wind.

This storm, like so many others, offers more than fear. It offers awe.

I realized I had a choice: to see this storm as a sign of impending danger, or to see it as a portrait of divine majesty. Yes, storms can destroy. But they can also remind us of the Creator's unmatched authority and strength. The very power that terrifies me is also the power that holds the universe in place—and holds me, too.

So tonight, I’m trying to shift. To trade in dread for reverence. To witness the storm not with panic, but with a kind of holy respect. I don’t want to live in fear of every gust of wind. I want to stand in awe of the God who commands it.

Reflection Questions:

• What storms in your life tend to fill you with fear?

• How might you shift your perspective to see God’s power rather than just potential destruction?

• Can you find awe even in what unsettles you?

  
  

Prayer: Lord, when the winds rise and the storms of life surround me, help me not to cower in fear, but to stand in awe of You. Remind me that nothing happens outside Your knowledge or Your power. Let the sound of thunder be a reminder of Your voice, and the swaying of trees a testimony of Your strength. Give me peace, not because the storm ends, but because You are in it with me. Amen.