I Will Fear No Thunder For Thou Art With Me

It’s  been awhile since I’ve shared a story about Kitty, our partially blind cat, who lives on our enclosed front porch.  She is happy in her little world.  She is safe there; well, until it thunders.  Then, Kitty isn’t so certain of her protection.

Late yesterday afternoon I noticed blackened clouds getting closer.  The wind picked up.  Very soon rain would be upon us.  Sure enough, in just a matter of a few minutes, here came the rain and the wind.  I went to have a sit in one of the front porch rocking chairs to watch the rain.  It was pleasant.  Kitty paid no attention to it — until a clap of thunder sounded overhead.  Then Kitty’s body shrank down, her head dipped, ears pinned back, pupils large.

“Kitty?”  I called her name softly.  She looked in my direction.  I put my hand down so she could feel my touch.  Immediately her stiffened body relaxed beneath my fingers.  Then, another crack of thunder shot across the sky.  Fear claimed her nerves once more.  I kept talking to her, giving my assurance that all was well.  As long as she focused on me, she was relaxed.  Thunder continued but her panic eased away.

After several minutes Kitty decided to go over to her perch.  She jumped onto the rocking chair, made her way along the windowsill, and settled onto her window perch.  From this point Kitty observes the outside world going by.  Her eyes stared at the pouring rain.  Another sound of thunder boomed but how did Kitty react?  She contentedly began to groom herself!  I smiled in her trust that she was safe in my presence.

Every now and again in the midst of her grooming she would glance toward me.  Seeing I was there she ignored the sounds of pelting rain and cracking thunder.  Nothing could hurt her in the presence of her enemy because I was there, like a shepherd looking over a flock of sheep,  and I would take care of her.

It’s no different for you and me is it?  Don’t we have a Shepherd who is with us in every one of life’s storms, protecting, guiding, whispering words of hope and comfort?

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”  Psalm 23:4