I have to be honest – as much as I love living by the beach, I really do not like the gale force winds that pound us every spring! And last spring, we had more than our fair share of storms!
Living near the beach on the west coast of NZ, I have come to both expect and, to a certain degree, get used to used to the prevailing NW wind blowing, but, as I said, last spring it was more than just windy – it was very, very windy, cold and grey – every day – or that was what it felt like!! I’m sure the sun also shone occasionally!
But, as I grumbled my way through the days, God was not just listening, but being very patient! In fact, he did more than just listen – he sent a blackbird to sing to me!
This blackbird perched itself in the neighbour’s plum tree every afternoon, and sang there until the sun went down, every single day! Tucked safely in the branches of a tree, completely sheltered from the stormy winds and rain, it sang it’s little heart out!
It had found the place where it was safe and could sing in the midst of the storm!
And it caused me to stop my grumbling, quieten my spirit, and listen to its sweet song – the sound of which rose clearly above the roar of the wind and the waves, and brought both joy and renewed perspective to my heart.
It also caused me to ponder on the fact that we too, have a place where we can go, where we are sheltered from life’s storms -a place where we can sing in the midst of the storm.
And a place where we can also hear the song that our God is singing over our lives, even when the storms of life blow around us.
Deuteronomy 33 vs 12 says: “’Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.’”
His invitation to us in the storm is to be still, and to allow Him to carry us as we listen to the soft, sweet sound of His voice. The sound that is echoed in the rhythm of the waves on the sea, the sound of the blackbirds and Tuis singing in the trees, the gentle twittering of the sparrows – each one of which is known to Him.
His voice speaks – and nature listens and joins in with their song of praise.
Why then, I wonder, is it all too often, so hard for us to respond to that invitation to be still and listen – an invitation that he is extending to you today.
Will you take some time to respond to His invitation – to come to Him and find the quiet place of safety in the midst of your storms? To listen to the song that He sings to your heart – to the whisper of His still small voice that rises above the storms and clamour of life?
The whisper that says “I love you, you are treasured, you are mine and I am with you always.”
The voice that whispers to your heart, “Let me take your burdens, I can carry those rocks – they were never yours to carry in the first place! And as I take them, I also carry you upon my shoulders, where you are safe, secure and loved forever.”
Have a Cup of Tea with God 
I love this post, Jackie. Thank you. We’re very much in a similar space right now. Yesterday’s Pray as You Go scripture was on Elijah(1 Kings 19) standing in the cave and discovering that God wasn’t in the storm, earthquake or fire, but in the still, small voice. Same message, and interesting that we need to let the fractious noise settle before being aware of His presence and the beauty around us.
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