Jeremiah 29:11a – For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil. (AMPC)

The sound of the violent wind roaring around the house was terrifying. As I peered nervously out into my backyard, I could see the wildly swinging branches of the trees tearing at my eavestrough as they whipped back and forth along the edge of the roof. I could see large pieces of debris flying across the yard and hear them crashing up against the walls of the house: pails, lawn chairs, lawn umbrellas, and even a small table. I felt totally frozen with fear, expecting at any moment to see a broken branch or something else come smashing through my large back window. I quickly moved away from the window, just in case. Then, the rain came, adding its pounding ferocity to the howling wind.

In that moment, God quietly spoke into my throbbing heart and whispered the gentle words of a chorus that I had learned many years ago:

He knows, He knows,
The storms that would my way oppose;
He knows, He knows,
And tempers every wind that blows.

In that same instant, the roaring stopped. There wasn't a whisper, except for the sound of huge, splattering rain drops.

As I stared out at the clutter left in my yard, my eyes rested upon a huge stump. A week before, the large tree, which had provided me with privacy and shade over the many years that I had lived here, had been cut down because it had died. I felt very sad about this loss, and hoped to put it off as long as I could. However, when I put in the work order, I was astonished to see the workers arrive the following day to remove my beloved tree.

Then, I began to see God's hand in the wisdom and timeliness of that act. Had it not been cut down right away, it would very likely have come crashing down onto my house because of the force of the powerful wind. One thought stood out in my mind: God knew. God knew, and He not only led me to arrange for the tree's removal, but He also led the workers to come as quickly as possible. I am so grateful that I listened and obeyed that sense of urgency, rather than putting it off, as I am so prone to do.

From the Lord's comforting words, I realized that this truth applies to every area of every believer's life. Instead of bemoaning our losses, we need to thank our Lord in every circumstance. We may not yet realize His part in saving us from what might have turned out to be a much more serious problem. We need to praise Him that He knows every little thing about us and that He plans for us in love, because He cares.

Prayer: All-knowing and all-loving Father, thank You for speaking Your guidance into our hearts. Thank You for Your Word that always confirms Your leading. Thank You for the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit. May we be continually amazed at Your timeliness as You lead us day by day. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Sharon Y. Greer <sygreer11@gmail.com>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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