Once, as a child, we were dead center (or so it seemed) of a really severe
electrical storm; with sounds so loud the affect was a bit more like explosions
on our nerves. Though, thankfully, all the family was home; family couldn't even
have kept us safe.
We gathered around the kitchen table, praying first then trying to find ways to
entertain each other so as to distract from all the noise. And, of course,
everything within the house had been turned off and unplugged, except the
kitchen light and a radio; as it was just that bad a storm. Then finally, mom
got up, went over by the sink, and unplugged the radio, too; as the lightning
was too close to take the chance of leaving it on. Perhaps that was our clue,
lighting was near to striking.
Then, with every boom, there was a moment of silence; listening to determine if
a tree would be falling on the house or whatever else might happen next. And, no
matter how we tried to ignore all that noise, we couldn't help but jump when the
sound seemed like a megaphone blaring in our little kitchen.
None-the-less, when lightning finally did strike our house, the thunder must
have been as loud as if we were sitting in the very cloud that had made all that
noise. There wasn't anyone left but what was at a nervous jitter and, of course,
the baby cried.
Then came what one might have thought to be the most important moment of silence
... listening ... listening ... l i s t e n i n g. But, nothing horrible
happened. We heard it. We saw it. The lightning went right by our heads, but
nothing. Where did it go?
We were immediately hushed as Dad left the table to research what damage the
lightning might have caused. Only by now, the silence was that we dare not make
another sound until the verdict had been determined. Though it was a bit
difficult, we knew this was potentially serious and we children managed to
continue shaking quietly.
But still, it was a bit of a mystery as all there was, just past the kitchen,
was a small utility area; a furnace, a hot water heater, a washer and a dryer
... and all appeared to be in working order. So, dad scanned the room further.
There was some metal shelving with a few things on the shelf, a metal tool box
(not hot) with all tools appearing to be in tact, and an ironing board and iron
... and the iron hadn't even been plugged in. That's about all that was in the
room, unless you want to count dad's work shoes. So, what, now?
I'm pretty sure, by this time, dad was calling upon some Heavenly discernment,
as he decided to scan the room one last time. He scanned the floor, the curtain
rod, the ceiling light, switch plates. "What could he be missing?" "The walls,
maybe it went through the wall. Look for a hole or something in the wall."
He looked and looked, then ... there, he saw it; the electrical box. Oh, my!
Just barely a few feet from where we were sitting, lightning had come through
the house and stuck the electrical box. On the outside cover of the box, one of
the four screws had been burned out; which was barely an inch from electrical
power.
Next, dad tested the box itself, to be certain it wasn't hot or having
electrical current running through the metal cover. Then, once he concluded it
might be safe to open, he did and it was determined that all electrical wiring
remained in tact. Shew! That was it? Lightning only hit one little screw? Now,
what are the odds of that?
Though the storm didn't stop right away, parents reasoned that, for God to
protect us from something as close as that, we could be assured we'd be safe
through the rest of this storm. Then, mom turned the radio back on and left us
children the option to leave the table, whenever we felt comfortable to do so.
While having never been amidst such an extreme electrical storm since, God
already knew this early experience would prove beneficial to me as an adult.
________________
As it happened, for twenty years, we lived in a small rural community surrounded
by miles and miles of farming flatland. And, as we were located, it was quite
common for our house to be slammed with 50 mph winds and sometimes greater;
whether those winds included rain, snow, hail, ice, blizzard, or debris. And
though the older windows had been storm window covered, glazed, caulked,
stuffed, drapery and blind covered, and once even blanket covered to slow down
the effect, it would sound as if every next slam against the house would be the
one that caused windows to pop out or break.
Yet, even though childhood fear was not knowingly present, these episodes would
produce reoccurrence of that same jittery feeling I had experienced as a child.
And as it were, I couldn't seem to make my jumpiness stop. Though, I did not
want to impose fear on my children; even by my appearance of such.
Therefore, considering that, put with other weather experiences (like tornadoes,
ice storms, white outs, blizzards, ice storms, and even our house once being
buried in snow) and witnessing the undesirable wining of some with even the
slightest weather change, it gave me confidence in God concerning such things
and left clues as to how to pray more effectively.
So, when I first began coming to God regarding the weather, I just told Him how
I saw it to be ... that He knows exactly how much water we need, and how much
outdoor plants and trees need (and, whether we think they need that much or not,
He knows if a dry spell is coming next week) ... that He knows just how much
cold we need, to keep bugs from taking over, etc ... and that I appreciate all
those things and am thankful He takes care of it (and I don't have to), that He
knows how to do it better than me, and so I won't tell Him how to do His job.
None-the-less, in addition to already loathing the crippling and victimizing
feeling of fear, I do not want to dishonor God in even the appearance. So,
concerning storms, all I ask is that He, please, not terrorize us ... that He
not allow what He is doing, with the weather, to terrorize us ~ as terror does
not come from God. Thus, wherever the blame goes, just don't let us be
terrorized. That's all I ask.
Whether a perfect prayer or not, it worked. I didn't need to 'know' if I said
the words exactly right. I did not have to ask forgiveness for unknown unrelated
sin, and I didn't even have to get on my knees. Neither did I ask God to get rid
of the storm or tell Him how to get the job done. Also, I didn't have to relive
an old experience to overcome and become a better me. It was the noise that most
affected me and all I asked was for God, however He would so choose, to help me
honor Him by meeting my need ... and He did.
Soon in awe, it was amazing! Drawing hubby to our kitchen window, we stood and
watched rain spinning on a neighboring roof, while we couldn't tell it was even
touching our house. When wind came from another direction, it appeared to bypass
us altogether. When tornadoes didn't land, I'd finally go outside to see why so
much silence, then run to call my daughter to come see what God had just done.
It would suddenly be a beautiful sunny day, with no sign there had ever been a
storm at all!
I can change the weather; not by my works but just by bringing the need of my
heart to God ~ every time. It is not a bit uncommon, as happened this year,
among other storms, that a 6"-10" snow prediction hit our entire part of the
state, except that it did a horseshoe around the entire city we now live in. As
it was, my youngest needed safe traveling to get home with her babies and God
left her a clear wide path.
In fact, one year, the TV meteorologist got replaced for his lack of accurate
predictions; poor guy. Do you suppose they would have believed me had I told
them it wasn't his fault?
While I make no claim to having obtained in all areas of life, I look forward to
that possibility and, in the meantime, know this. We limit God when we tell Him
how to meet our need. Just know that He loves us enough to get the job done.
© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
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