A few days ago, Kevin and I were out running errands when the sky decided to open up. It was a true deluge—the kind of rain that pounds on the roof of the car so hard it becomes a deafening roar. In a storm like that, the world outside vanishes; you can barely see your hand in front of your face, and the noise is so constant you can’t even hear your own thoughts.

But then, we drove under the heavy branches of a massive, sprawling tree.

For a few brief seconds, there was TOTAL SILENCE. The thick leaves caught the brunt of the storm, and a beautiful, heavy quiet settled over the car. It was a momentary sanctuary from the chaos.

I couldn’t help but think: Life is so much like that rain.
Most days, we are pulled in a thousand different directions. We are bombarded by the “noise” of what must be done, the demands of the world, and the static of our own busyness. It gets so loud that we lose our internal compass.

But then the quiet comes—not by accident, but because we choose to stop and listen. When we pull aside from the distractions of the world, we finally hear the inner chantings of the Holy Spirit.

It reminds me of the promise in Psalm 91:1, that whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will REST IN THE SHADOW of the Almighty. Just like that tree provided a shadow of peace in the middle of a downpour, God invites us to step out of the noise and find rest under His protection.

We often look for Him in the “thunder” of big events, but as 1 Kings 19:12 tells us, He is most often found in the “still, small voice” that follows the storm.
When life gets loud, I encourage you to look for your “tree.” Stop, listen, and find rest in His shadow today.

“I will be still… You are my God.” — Still (Hillary Scott & The Scott Family)