Many things in life have good and bad sides. We pray for rain to water the crops planted by farmers, but we never want storms to lash upon our neighbors. We pray for the environmental health of our seas and oceans, yet we fear the wrath of their violent tides and gloomy skies. In all things, thank the Lord for the beautifully balanced dichotomy of nature and always ask for His protection and mercy.
As a storm fast approaches, we can take a few minutes of our day to pray for the safety of our families, our neighbors, ourselves, and all those who are much more vulnerable to danger than we are. With this prayer for the storm, may the Lord give us light showers, soft winds, and gentle tides.
Prayer for those in the path of a storm
Divine Creator,
Your power and majesty are unmatched. Your voice could shake mountains, and Your hands can create life. I am beyond blessed to be touched by Your grace, mercy, and love. Forgive me for all my shortcomings, O Lord. Help me refrain from committing them again. Instead, I commit myself to You and Your Word.
As storm clouds roll in and thunder will soon pierce the silence, I humbly surrender myself to You in prayer. I feel anxious about the upcoming storm, but I pray that You will keep me calm and focused as I prepare the things we need in our emergency kits and as we strengthen our home to withstand the onslaught of the storm. Help me shut out any worries and focus on the task at hand. May You deliver my loved ones and me from danger.
I pray for the weathermen, reporters, and all who have to bravely leave the comfort and safety of their homes just to provide the crucial information and updates we need before, during, and after a storm. They are proof that not all heroes wear capes and can be vulnerable too in times of calamities, yet they still remain steadfast in their responsibility. May You protect them as they report to where the rains pour the hardest and the thunder booms the loudest. May the winds be kind to them, and they finish their jobs successfully and unscathed.
I pray for those noble and courageous men and women who rescue and protect us during these storms. I also pray for the homeless, the poor, the astraphobic (afraid of thunder and lightning), and anyone who does not have the resources to prepare and recover from any possible damages a storm may cause. My heart and compassion go out to them, and I can only pray that there will be plenty of golden-hearted volunteers who will help them when the need arises. Lord, I beg You to keep them safe and sound and to soothe their fears and troubles.
Under Your protective wing, may we be safe and secure from all harm as we wait out the storm. Watch over all of us.
Amen.
Short prayer for the storm
O Gracious God,
I pray for the safety of my family and loved ones during the oncoming storm. Help us prepare for the calamity. When the skies are darkest, and the rain is heaviest, may You watch over us and protect us from harm. I also pray for my community and neighbors, may You keep them safe and sound when the thunder booms and the lightning cracks. May Your grace and mercy deliver us safely from the looming storm.
Amen.
The Word of God
God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth’; and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain, serves as a sign on everyone’s hand, so that all whom he has made may know it.
Job 37:5-7, 13 NRSVUE
Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
A windstorm suddenly arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves, but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”
Matthew 8:24-27 NRSVUE
Intercessory prayer to Saint Medardus
Holy Saint Medardus,
Blessed are you among saints, for you have exercised your God-given knowledge and piety in loyal service to the Lord. Touch us with your faith and loyalty.
As a storm brews and darkens the sky overhead, I offer this prayer for those in the path of a storm. I pray for the volunteers, rescuers, weathermen, reporters, police officers, families, and everyone who could be affected by this storm. Shield them from any danger that might befall them. I pray for the homeless and those who have fears of lightning and thunder, and I beg you to stand guard over them as the storm lashes. Guide those who live in landslide and flood-prone areas so that they may evacuate to a safer place.
Pray for my loved ones and me as the looming storm threatens our safety and security. Carry our prayers of deliverance to the Lord, and beg Him to hear our pleas. Without Him, we are merely fragile beings at the mercy of the howling winds and pouring rain. May His heart soften when He casts His gaze upon our fellow brethren and us. There are many people and families who are much more susceptible than we are, and my heart breaks just thinking of what could happen to them and how they might be feeling right now. I pray that the Lord will look upon them with mercy and extend His protective arms towards them, too, shielding them from the storm’s destructive path.
With you joining us in prayer, I know that the Lord will have mercy on us and take action.
Saint Medardus, pray for us. Amen.
Further reflection
If we think about it, life is very much like the weather. We have bright, sunny days full of joy and success; we have light rains that are a bit disappointing but can be comforting, insightful, and essential to growth; and then we have violent storms that destroy the things we worked hard for. Always keep in mind that God knows we’re capable of all the trials He gives us. How can we deny that when it is the Almighty Lord Himself who said so? When God brings a metaphorical storm into our lives, it might mean that we need to destroy some things to begin anew. It could also be His way of making His presence known and reminding us to strengthen our faith just as we would strengthen our homes before a storm.
May this calamity be a reminder that we are only guests on this vast, ever-changing planet we call home. We can build all the technology we like, but in the end, we are only at the mercy of nature and God’s power. So cast aside our greed and strive to do things that truly matter: love our neighbor, help the needy, care for the environment, preach the Gospel, and live a life of virtue, faith, and righteousness.
