The storm reminds us that life is often chaotic, dark, and completely unpredictable. The storm tests our faith and pushes us deeper into God (or our idols). The storm reveals our inadequacies, our fears, our weaknesses, and all the things we seek comfort in—our addictions, distractions. The storm can bend us so far we nearly break.

Fortunately, all storms have something in common; there’s always a quiet after every one. If we can just push through the chaos and uncertainty, there’s light on the other side, and in this truth, we find peace.

The storm reminds us who is in control. It reminds us that no matter how together we feel we are, no matter how much we plan, no matter how prudent and on top of things we are, we are all just one earth shattering event away from complete uncertainty or despair. We never really know when the storm will begin to brew, but when it does, will you be ready?

The best we can learn to do is to prepare and then let it go, write the plans in the agenda book and then give the pencil (not a pen) to God so He can erase where He sees fit. Write then rest. We have to do our parts; we have to prepare as best we can, but preparing the right way consists of two parts—action and rest. We have to at some point learn how to say to ourselves, “I’ve done all I can do, and now the rest is up to Him.” We have to learn to rest in that no matter how hard it may be.

Yesterday my power went out, and I was forced to spend a Friday night with no distractions—just me, God, and all the things weighing on my mind. Finally, I just surrendered to it all and drifted off to sleep in complete darkness and uncertainty.

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

We’ve been having a lot of storms lately, and last night I apparently slept right through one of the worst. When I woke up this morning, it was quiet, calm, peaceful. The sun was beginning to peak through the clouds, and the birds were chirping. My power was restored. Life was alright once again. When I picked up my phone it was flooded with notifications of tornado warnings. I had slept right through it all with absolutely no conception of what was even happening, but God had me; He always has and always will. God works everything out for good.

I’m grateful for last night’s storm; it reminded me who God is. I pray the next time it storms—whether it be externally or internally—you’ll too remember who God is. I pray you’ll use the storm to push you even deeper into your faith. I pray you’ll be reminded that no matter how dark it gets, there’s light at the end of it all. We all have a choice: we can stay anxious and fight for control, or we can rest in God, in faith, until the storm blows over. Though life and nature alike may very well be chaotic and unpredictable, we who have faith are held in the hands of an all powerful, unchanging God who quiets every storm.