Shielded in the Storm
By Ellis White
Senior Pastor
Late last year, a powerful “bomb cyclone” slammed into the Pacific Northwest, leaving hundreds of thousands without power, toppling trees, and causing widespread damage. But here in Gig Harbor, we were largely spared.
Why?
A friend of mine who works for the power company explained it to me. The storm’s unusual southeast winds—blowing opposite to the normal direction—caused more damage than usual across the Puget Sound. But for us in Gig Harbor, those same winds meant something different: we were shielded by Mount Rainier. While others faced the full force of the storm, the mountain absorbed much of its impact before it could reach us.
It’s a powerful picture of what we see in Scripture—God as our shield.
Psalm 3:3 says,
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
Again and again in the Psalms, we hear this truth. God doesn’t always remove us from the storm, but he stands between us and its full force. He absorbs what we cannot bear. He protects, strengthens, and upholds us in ways we may not even realize.
I have come to experience God as my shield through prayer. When I bring my fears, burdens, and uncertainties before him, I find peace—not always because the storm stops, but because I know I am not facing it alone. One resource that has helped me grow in this daily habit is an app called Lectio 365.
Lectio 365 is a simple, guided prayer app developed by 24-7 Prayer. Each day, it leads you through scripture, reflection, and prayer using the rhythm of P.R.A.Y.—Pause, Rejoice, Ask, and Yield. It’s designed to help you slow down, center your heart on God, and experience his presence as your shield.
If you’re looking for a way to deepen your prayer life, I encourage you to download the app and join me in daily prayer. You can find it here: Lectio 365
May you come to know God as your shield, your protector, and your peace—no matter what storm you’re facing.
Pastor Ellis
P.S.— With Pastor Gunnar’s departure, we are beginning the hiring process for a Worship Director. To find the right person, we have contracted with the same search firm that helped us successfully find our terrific Student Ministries Director, Caleb Bagdanov. Please pray for the right person to be found as our next Worship Director, and if you know anyone who might be interested in applying, please direct them to Pastor Julie (jhawkins@chapelhillpc.org) In the interim, we will continue to have a rotation of worship leaders on Sunday mornings as we did during Pastor Gunnar’s recent paternity leave. I have no doubt that team will do an excellent job in leading us in worship!