Be Still During the Raging Storm and Anchor Yourself

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) 

It is almost a year since the coronavirus turned the world and our lives upside down. Who could ever have predicted what a storm of life it would bring? Now, despite the availability of vaccines, we still don’t know when the storm will pass. Many people around the world are additionally coping with other raging storms of life--illness, death, grief, fear, depression, loneliness, unemployment, financial struggles or problems in relationships.

David in Psalm 13 asked: “How long, O Lord? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all day?” Have you felt and experienced days like David did? I have, which is why I am sharing about how and when I learned to be still during a raging storm and to anchor myself to the Lord.

When the pandemic started I, like many, was afraid not only for my safety but also for my family and my friends around the world. I praise and thank God that until June, the virus hadn’t hit anyone I knew personally. But then, one of my siblings in Canada and his wife got sick. While this storm was raging, I turned my panic into prayers, worship and meditation and I listened to online sermons in my quiet time. It was in those days that I found myself really seeking the Lord and anchoring myself in his Word, presence and promises. After more than three weeks my prayers were answered.

However, the stress continued, and for many months close friends suffered depression, job loss, financial worries and loneliness. I too suffered through stress and trials. In late autumn, I felt like my boat was really being tossed violently by the raging storm and that my anchor was not strong enough. I felt weakened and on the brink of depression. I cried out to the Lord and he answered me with Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” For many days I meditated on and proclaimed this verse and sang the song “Still.” In November, I joined my Filipino women’s prayer group and this song was chosen to be sung. We had never sung this before hence only I and the coordinator could sing it.

But the raging storm continued, friends and relatives were hit by a strong typhoon and their homes were flooded, the highest flood in more than 100 years. A close friend in Texas lost her husband to Covid-19. By now my anchor was solidly hooked into God’s Word and promises. His words, “Be still,” were repeated again when Pastor Ramil, whom IPC supports, used the song “Still” as the backing track in his video:

Hide me now under your wings,

Cover me within your mighty hands,

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,

I will soar with you above the storm,

Father you are King over the flood

I will be still and know you are God.

─ “Still” (Hillsong)

This my dear friends was my anchor in the 2020 storm. I hope and pray that you too will learn to “be still,” to keep your anchor steady and to know that God is in life’s storms.

Prayer

Almighty Father, no matter how the storms may rage in our lives, help us to be still before you and wait patiently, knowing you are God. Help us to keep our focus on you and your words, to sing praises joyfully, to glorify you and thank you. Then when you rebuke the storm and stillness returns, our dependence and trust in you will deepen. You promised that though grass withers and flowers fade, your Word will stand forever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.