The Lord is my strength. Habakkuk 3:19

For this to end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God. 1 Timothy 4:10

As a hurricane quickly approached a small coastal town, all the people hurried to the town’s shelter. There they were huddled together in the dark with the winds howling, sheets of rain beating down and the door of the shelter just about to rattle off its hinges!

Everyone huddled in the shelter had their eyes fixed on the door for they knew that if it were to blow off that everyone would be sucked out of the shelter by the hurricane.

The town’s elderly pastor stood up in their midst and began to pray with great oratorical effects... crying out he prayed “Lord...-Send us the spirit of the children of Israel. -The spirit of the children of Moses and -The spirit of the children of the Promised Land."

At this, an old man not as polished but certainly as direct cried out in prayer.. "Lord, don’t send nobody....You come yourself!...This ain’t no job for children."

I don’t know if you can relate but I can! There have been times in my life when I desperately needed God and God alone! And He was there for me. Always.

When I’m at my most hateful and angry, when I’m down as low as I can go, His embrace only gets tighter. When I’m shouting at Him, saying it’s all His fault (when I know that it is not), He embraces me in is arms and tells me I’m loved. His strength and love covers me like a warm blanket. He is there for me. Comforting me, soothing my nerves and telling me I will be ok.  I needed God, his strength, his love.

Father, you provide my strength on the darkest of days. When I fall, you scoop me up into your loving arms, brush me off, and place me back on my feet. Thank you for tenderly loving me and claiming me as yours. May I always proclaim your goodness as I serve others in you name. Amen.

Susan Hanson 

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party