A prayer you can pray right now
A Prayer for Those in the Path of a Storm
The storm is coming, and you can feel the whole coast holding its breath. Maybe your car is packed and you are watching the sky, deciding whether to leave or stay. Maybe you have boarded the windows and filled the tub and there is nothing left to do but wait. Maybe you are far away, refreshing the forecast for someone you love who is right in its path. There is a particular fear in watching a storm approach with your name on it, knowing you cannot outrun the wind and cannot make it turn. You do not have to face those hours alone or in silence. Come and bring the storm, and everyone standing in its path, to the God who has calmed the sea before.
“He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”Psalm 107:29
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”Mark 4:39
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”Psalm 91:1
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”Nahum 1:7
A prayer you can pray
Father, the storm is bearing down and I feel so small before it. I bring You everyone in its path, the families deciding whether to flee, the elderly who cannot easily leave, the workers who must stay behind, the children watching their parents' worried faces. Cover them under the shadow of Your wings. Where the wind rises, hold the roofs and the walls; where the water surges, hold back the flood. Give wisdom to those making hard choices and guard the crews who will go out into the danger to save others. You who once said to a raging sea, "Peace, be still," speak peace over this coast tonight. And if the storm still comes in full force, be present in every dark and flooded hour, and bring us all through to morning. In the name of Jesus, amen.
How to pray this
Pray this before the storm and keep praying through it, out loud if the howling wind makes silence unbearable. Scripture testifies that God "maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still," and Psalm 91 pictures the one who trusts God dwelling "under the shadow of the Almighty." Say those words as your shelter. Nahum reminds you that the Lord is "a strong hold in the day of trouble" who knows those who trust Him, so speak your trust even as the barometer drops. Praying does not replace preparing: heed evacuation orders, help a neighbor who cannot move quickly, charge your phone, and keep water and supplies ready. Faith and good sense are partners. Let your prayer steady your hands so you can protect the people around you.
The One who hears this prayer
When Jesus and His friends were caught in a violent squall on the lake, He stood up in the pitching boat and spoke three words to the wind and the waves, "Peace, be still," and the storm obeyed Him. His friends were stunned that even the wind listened to Him. That same Jesus hears you now as the hurricane approaches. He does not always still every storm the way we ask, but He is never asleep to your fear, and He has authority over the very forces that terrify you. Whether He calms the wind outside or the storm inside your chest, He is in the boat with you. You are not facing this alone.
Who is Jesus? · Begin with Jesus · Ask someone to pray with you
Questions people ask
Should I pray for the storm to miss us, or is that selfish since it will just hit someone else?
It is natural to pray for your own family's safety, and God welcomes that. But you can widen the prayer so it is not merely, Send it elsewhere. Pray that the storm would weaken, that everyone in its broader path would be protected, and that wherever it lands, people would be kept and helped. Praying for the safety of strangers along with your own household keeps your heart generous and honest before God, who loves them all.
We decided to evacuate and I feel guilty leaving our home behind. Is that faithless?
Not at all. Leaving is often the wisest and most faithful choice you can make, because your life matters far more than any building. Trusting God does not mean staying in danger to prove your faith; Scripture honors prudence. You can commit your home to God, do what you can to protect it, and go. If it is lost, that is a grief, but it is not a failure of faith. Protect the people. Things can be rebuilt.
How do I keep my kids calm when I am terrified myself?
Children take their cues from you, so it is okay to be honest without unloading your full fear on them. Tell them you are praying, and let them hear a short, simple prayer that God is watching over the family. Give them a small job so they feel useful. Hold them close, keep a familiar routine where you can, and remind them that many people are working to keep everyone safe. Your steady presence, even an imperfect one, is a shelter to them.