When the storms of life are raging ...

As the pictures of Japan after the earthquake played across the television and the wall of water of the tsunami consumed everything in front of that massive moving force; as the news from the northeastern part of America concerning flood-stage rivers became gripping news; as a friend shares the devastating news about the ugly reality of alcoholism’s effects on members of their family; as individuals are dealing with cancer, divorce, job loss, failing health, rebellious children, death and heartache there is one hymn that keeps playing in my mind … and from that the assurance that God cares in the midst of tragedy, mercy will be given and grace experienced … and we are not alone in the middle of the destructive forces of life that would seek to teardown, destroy and crush the very last breath out of us.

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the hosts of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou Who never lost a battle,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When I do the best I can,
And my friends misunderstand,
Thou Who knowest all about me,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When my foes in battle array
Undertake to stop my way,
Thou Who savèd Paul and Silas,
Stand by me (stand by me).

When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When my life becomes a burden,
And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O Thou “Lily of the Valley,”
Stand by me (stand by me).

There is a story from behind the Iron Curtain after the Berlin Wall was taken down and communism was destroyed. It was just a hand-printed sign on a piece of old plywood leaning against an old shuttered Christian church … “The Lamb wins!”

Through it all God is with us … he stands with us and helps us face whatever comes our way … and in the end, he wins … and so do we!

Quote for today: There are no hopeless situations; there are only people who have grown hopeless about them. ~Clare Boothe Luce