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Til The Storm Passes By

It’s almost fall.  Labor Day, the official end of summer is here.  Kids are already back in school.  Soon we’ll be drinking pumpkin spice, talking about Halloween, Turkey Shoots, and then Christmas.  This year is going very fast.  We had all hoped that 2021 would be better than 2020, and maybe it has, and maybe it hasn’t.  Depends on who you ask.  Whether one is worse then the other doesn’t really matter.  It’s rough right now.

The last Sunday of August we prayed about Covid, Afghanistan, the devastating floods in Waverly, Hurricane Ida and a host of other local concerns.  I sometimes feel at a loss to know how to pray.  I feel ineffective. 

As I prayerfully considered this writing for the Pastor’s Pen, I considered all these things that we as a country are dealing with and I watched the whipping winds of Ida tearing through Louisiana.  I feel overwhelmed as a pastor for all the needs we have in front of us.  Then I remembered an old gospel song.  Well, it’s not that old.  Keep Me Safe Til the Storm Passes By.

Written in 1958 by the prolific songwriter Mosie Lister, it was originally written for Mahalia Jackson.  We don’t know the inspiration but perhaps he was thinking about Mark 4:39: He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 

I’m also reminded of the story of John Wesley’s trip across the Atlantic in 1735. He and his brother, Charles, were with a group of Moravian immigrants from Germany, who were in the middle of a worship service when the storm hit.  John wrote, “the sea broke over, split the main sail in pieces, covered the ship and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed us up.”  While the storm railed, the Moravians continued to sing, while the English people on board were terrified.  What was the difference?  The Moravians were at peace with God and trusted in Him.

The Psalmist writes in 42:7 says: “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”  The deep well of living water that is within us can call out to the waves that sweep over us.  He will keep us safe until the storm passes by.

In the dark of the midnight
Have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me
And there's no hiding place
'Mid the crash of the thunder
Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by

'Til the storm passes over
'Til the thunder sounds no more
'Til the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand
In the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe 'til the storm passes by








Many times Satan whispers
There is no need to try
For there's no end of sorrow
There's no hope by and by
But I know Thou art with me
And tomorrow I'll rise
Where the storms
Never darken the skies

When the long night has ended
And the storms come no more
Let me stand in Thy presence
On that bright, peaceful shore
In that land where the tempest
Never comes, Lord may I
Dwell with Thee
When the storm passes by"

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