God Is Stronger Than Any Storm - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 21

God Is Stronger Than Any Storm
By Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.” – Psalm 77:17-18, NIV

I watched in awe as a summer thunderstorm raged outside one afternoon. Safe inside my house, I looked through a window as dark clouds poured down water in blurry sheets. I listened as thunder rumbled so loudly that the sound vibrated in my body. Our cat was so scared by the thunder’s noise that she ran to hide in our coat closet. Our lights flickered, and then the power went out completely. Huge streaks of lightning flashed in the sky as the storm kept going with furious energy. 

We often feel vulnerable when a big storm hits. We lose electrical power, roads flood, and trees fall. But even in the middle of that chaos, there’s something beautiful about how a storm reminds us of something greater than ourselves. The sense of awe we feel when we experience nature’s power points us to nature's Creator, God. Thunderstorms are incredibly powerful, but even the strongest thunderstorm is still just a part of creation and can’t match God’s strength as the Creator. Psalm 77:17-18 uses the imagery of a thunderstorm to describe God’s awesome power and give us a sense of how overwhelming it can be. God has unlimited power, so God is stronger than any storm. 

Just as there are physical storms, there are also spiritual storms in our lives. These can come in many forms – such as a broken relationship, a sudden job loss, or a scary health diagnosis – in our fallen world. These spiritual storms can feel just as overwhelming as a raging thunderstorm. They can leave us feeling shaken and drenched in discouragement. 

But here’s the wonderful truth: The same God who commands the thunder and lightning is the God who is always with you, even as you go through storms. You can count on God to help you with everything you need during storms, and you can look forward to God bringing good purposes out of them. Just like physical storms, spiritual storms can also serve good purposes. A thunderstorm clears the air and renews the earth. Our spiritual storms are painful when we go through them, but they also refresh us. They can wash away our complacency, clarify our priorities, and motivate us to trust God in fresh ways that help us experience spiritual renewal and revival. 

Every thunderstorm ends, and when it does, the sun breaks through and we can see with a fresh perspective. After a spiritual storm, we can emerge with a fresh sense of hope because God has taught us something spiritually valuable during the storm. The “lightning” of a spiritual storm might light up a path we need to see, so we can make wise decisions. The “thunder” of a spiritual storm might be a wake-up call to take action on something God wants us to do. 

So, the next time a thunderstorm rolls into your area, see it as a powerful reminder of God’s wonderful strength that can help you go through the spiritual storms in your life. Remember that the same God who’s in control of every part of creation is stronger than any storm you’ll ever face – either physical or spiritual. God is ready to lead you through any storm to the calm on the other side, and to refresh you in the process! 

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

As you consider how you can rely on God’s strength during storms, reflect on these questions: 

• Do you feel stressed when a strong thunderstorm happens? How can you change your perspective to see God’s power at work in it?
• What was the last “spiritual storm” you experienced, and how did you get through it?
• Even though that spiritual storm was hard to go through, how did it ultimately serve a good purpose in your life?
• What’s one step you can take to rely more on God’s strength when you’re going through a spiritual storm? 

Further Reading:
Nahum 1:3
Psalm 29:3-4
Isaiah 43:2
Mark 4:39
Philippians 4:6-7

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/bestdesigns 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on  X/Twitter.

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