no storm can shake my inmost calm.

So I’m pretty much a scaredy cat. I’m afraid of a lot of things! Crickets, clowns, heights. But my biggest fear is thunderstorms. I can remember the exact day when this fear entered my life. In first grade there was apparently a real bad storm and they were expecting tornados. The teachers sent all the students to sit it the hall, just in case. Since we were so little they told us we were going to “read books.” Whatever… but they finally explained to us the situation, and it terrified me. Nothing happened, but from then on even the mention of a storm scared me to death.

My fear got so bad that I would not leave the house if I knew it was going to storm, and if it did storm I would work myself up into tears every time. My parents even talked about taking me to counseling, therapy, or even getting me hypnotized to lose this irrational fear. In middle school and even on in to high school I would obsessively check the weather forecast. If I knew it was going to storm bad I would fake sick so I could go home. For some reason being at home was the only place I felt truly safe.

Growing up, everyone has their “security blankets,” something that comforts them in times of fear or anxiety. For some it’s a stuffed animal, for others it’s a nightlight, but for me, mine was literally a blanket. I took my blanket everywhere. And there was even a special way of holding my blanket. There was a corner that was frayed a little bit, so I would stick that corner up my nose, with my thumb in my mouth, and I would hardly ever stray from this position. I know this is hard to believe but I was really shy when I was little, and this seemed to help me, especially when it stormed. As I grew up, I learned to live without my blanket or sucking my thumb, and I replaced it with a new form of security and comfort— God.

In choir last year, we sang a song called “How Can I Keep From Singing.” This song talked about all the wonders of our Lord and no matter what we’re going through, we should always praise his name. In the song, there was the following line-- “No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that rock I’m clinging.” I knew this was true long before I joined the Wesley choir, started college, or even high school, really.

By putting all my trust and faith in God, I knew he would deliver me through the storm.

Psalm 46:1-3,7says—

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

So although I may never get over my fear or storms 100%, I will always have faith that God will see me through them all. And whatever your personal storm may be, he will see you through it as well.

Isaiah 41:10--

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

peace, love, and thanks be to god--

taylor.