It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Isaiah 4:6

It was my birthday, I was turning 40. That night I was putting the last of the siding up on the barn.

A storm came over the fields with quite a punch as the sun set.

As I screwed in the last piece of wood separating the inside from the outside, the wind became deafening.

It was too late to run inside the house for shelter. It was a little scary I admit. We built this place with our own two hands and only using three tools.

It was about to be tested...

I sat down on the floor against the Northwest wall of the barn which is what the wind was hitting the hardest. I could feel the wall swaying slightly with every gust. I could hear the cracks and groans of the poles as they were being tested.

I just sat there talking with God.

I was nervous.

But, he had us build this place for a reason. I trusted that he had me use all screws and no nails for a reason. I trusted that he had me do extra stuff that was code for structures built right on the water that weren’t “needed.” I trusted that he had us put every board in its place for a reason.

In short, I finished that heart to heart with these words.

I Trust You Lord.

It’s weathered many storms since that night in the past 9 years. God willing, it will weather many more.

When a storm comes. I feel safer in here than anywhere else. Working on crosses for Him.