The Storm

Gray clouds choke out the sun.
The day becomes a haze.
A scowl paints over my face;
I drift into a daze,
Imagining the warmth
Of the clear summer days.

I turn my face sky-ward
As the first rain drops fell.
A gentle wind blew in,
Twirling leaves in circles.
The northern wind grew cold
As it blew more fiercely.

The gray deepened to black,
And the rain fell in sheets.
I looked for some shelter,
But there was none to see.
My heart pounded quickly
While my clothes soaked in rain.

Lightning split through the sky,
Illuminating light,
Showing my dire distress.
The ground 'round about me
Turned towards the blackened sky
In a natural bowl.

Thunder bellowed loudly;
Shaking me to the core.
My nerves snapped. Eyes widened.
I jumped for the bowl's lip,
But it was out of reach.
My hope turned to despair.

The bowl filled too quickly;
I could not stay a float.
The wind cut through my body,
Chilling me, killing me.
I cried out in my fear,
"God, please save my life! Please!"

Lightning tore through the sky;
Thunder shook the very ground.
The rain showed no slowing;
My prayer went unanswered.
"You are stronger than this!
You can stop this storm, God.

"Nature listens to You;
It follows Your commands.
I ask for You to help!"
Lightning flashed; thunder roared;
The wind died; the rain slowed.
The deep black turned to gray.

A hand reached out to me;
It pulled me from my trap.
I stood on higher ground
While the rain stopped fully.
The sun broke through the clouds,
Warmth flooded my cold skin.

The gray melted away,
Revealing a bright blue.
"Breathe deep," a small voice said.
I filled my lungs with air
Several times by nose.
The air smelt clean and clear.

The storm which had brought fear,
Brought cleansing along too.
This is the way God works.
We see one thing in fear,
But He does another.
For He is above us.