Russians in the Kemerovo Region of Siberia got a real scare in late August, 2016. It appears that many believed Russia was under a nuclear attack – not by what they heard over the radio, but by what they saw in the sky – a giant H-bomb cloud rising thousands of feet into the air!

For those Russians old enough to remember the detonation of the “Tzar Bomba” – the 57-megaton behemoth which the Soviet Union detonated over the island of Novaya Zemlya in October 1961 – this brought back some frightening memories.

When locals like “Oksaya Suhoparova” posted photos of the monster cloud on Instagram, reporters from news agencies around the world (including CNN) were texting her about the mushroom cloud’s origin and asking, “Are you alright?” and “What’s happening there?”

But Russian meteorologists had the answer.  It was just an unusually large cumulus cloud of very warm air which rose to a level of much cooler air.  When the warm water vapor hit the cooler air it spread the cloud outward like the top of a mushroom.  No H-bomb, just a storm cloud.  Yet many people were simply determined to believe the worse.

I admit, over the span of my life I’ve learned that there are legitimate dangers that are frightening. There are things of which I was once blissfully ignorant.  But a far more frequent experience is that most of the things I fear are not H-Bombs at all. They just noisy storm clouds.  My fears are simply blowing them out of proportion.

And even when the danger is real, remember that we are not simply floating along like a discarded leaf, blown about by the wind.  An almighty and all-merciful God is guiding our steps, closing many doors which lead to disaster and opening the few which lead to success and our ultimate salvation.

When King David wrote the 23rd Psalm he acknowledged there were many times when he was surrounded by real dangers.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5).

But David knew that God always made the difference in his life between death and complete security.  God was his heavily-armed Shepherd and always stood between David and his enemies (Psalm 23:4).

I suppose David had many fears.  I’m sure one of them was that he would wake up one night with King Saul’s spear at his throat or that he, like Saul, would die on the battlefield alone and abandoned (1 Samuel 27:1).  But it never happened.  David, a professional soldier, died peacefully in bed surrounded by family and friends.

His testimony was, “I sought the LORD and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

The clouds you so much dread, are big with mercy and will break with blessings on your heads. – William Cowper

Do you feel like trouble is pursuing you?

If the LORD is your Shepherd then you can claim David’s promise, “Surely (or “only,” “exclusively”) goodness and mercy will follow me (literally, “pursue me”) all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6).

Are some scary clouds looming on the horizon?  Don’t worry.  Put your conscious trust in God.  In the words of William Cowper,

“Fresh courage take, you fearful saints, the clouds you so much dread, are big with mercy and will break with blessings on your heads.”

PRAYER:

Almighty and merciful Father, be my shield this day from all danger and harm – physical, moral, and spiritual.  Surround me and those I love with Your love and make me a blessing to others. Amen.