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Have you ever felt like a candle in the wind—fragile, flickering, unsure where to turn when the storm hits? There’s a lyric from an old Elton John song that captures this ache perfectly. In today’s message we reflect on the reality that as Christians, we have someone to cling to when the rain sets in.

There’s a haunting beauty in Elton John’s song Candle in the Wind. Though it was written originally about Marilyn Monroe and later adapted for Princess Diana, its lyrics strike a deeply human chord. One line in particular echoes in my heart: “Never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in.” That’s more than just a song lyric; it’s a spiritual reality that each of us eventually faces.

Because the rain will come. Storms in life are inevitable. The wind will blow, the lightning will flash, and the thunder will roar. And when that happens, we’re left with a simple but urgent question: Who will we cling to?

Too often, we go through life like candles in the wind—fragile, exposed, barely holding on. It’s no wonder that so many of us burn out emotionally, spiritually, or even physically before our time. When trials come, some people don’t know where to turn. But we do!

We have a Savior who speaks peace into the storm.

Remember the Gospel scene where Jesus and the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee? A fierce storm swept over the water—waves crashing, wind howling, the boat nearly capsizing. Even though many of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, they were terrified. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep in the boat (Mark 4:35–41). In their panic, they cried out, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus rose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” And just like that, the storm ceased, and a great calm followed.

Then He turned and asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”

That question reaches through time and touches each one of us. The storms of life not only test our endurance, they expose what, or who, we are clinging to. Elton John’s lyric, “never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in,” expresses the silent ache of living without an anchor. But as Christians, we are not left anchorless. We do know who to cling to. Or at least, we can know.

Jesus is not a distant observer. He doesn’t merely calm storms from afar. He climbs into the boat with us. He grabs the rudder. He holds us when we tremble. When life’s winds threaten to snuff out our flame, He shields us in the palm of His hand.

I’ve had moments in my own life when I felt like that candle in the wind—anxious, overwhelmed, uncertain of what would come next. In those times, I had to confront a hard truth: what was I clinging to? Was I holding onto control, reputation, money, success—or Christ Himself?

Here’s what I’ve learned: Clinging to anything other than Jesus in the storm is like reaching for a leaf as you fall from a cliff. It might give you hope for a moment, but it can’t hold you. Only He can.

The book of Hebrews gives us a powerful word of assurance: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). That’s the promise. Jesus is our anchor. He is the One who steadies us when everything else sways. He is our calm when chaos closes in.

It’s not a failure to feel afraid. The disciples themselves were filled with fear. But the question remains: what do we do next? Do we cry out to Jesus in the storm? Do we trust that He is with us, even when we feel alone?

Our candles may flicker, but they do not have to go out.

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. And no matter how fierce the wind may blow, you are not powerless. Cling to Jesus. Call upon Him. Let Him be your shelter and strength.

Because while every candle eventually burns out, our witness, our testimony of Christ’s faithfulness in the storm, can shine long after the wind dies down. The world is watching. We must let them see what it looks like when someone clings to Jesus in the rain.

Let your candle burn, not with fear, but with faith. Let it flicker, but never fail.

Heavenly Father, Your Son’s words from long ago echo in my ears: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Father, give me courage to face the storms of life. Help me to cling to Jesus. Surround me with a calm, peaceful surrender that only He can give. Amen! 

AMDG 

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Brian Pusateri

Brian is a Christian author and speaker. Brian, a lifelong Catholic, felt his life was forever changed when God spoke to his heart while attending an eight day silent Christian retreat in November of 2011. Soon after that retreat Brian founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. With the God inspired message of mercy and unconditional love that was placed on his heart during that retreat, Brian has been impacting others all over the country and around the world with his weekly letters, his talks, and his all day Christian retreats. In June of 2014, Brian’s life was again impacted in a very dramatic way when his eyesight suddenly became permanently impaired. The initial diagnosis was Multiple Scleroses (MS) but in December of 2019 the diagnosis was corrected to MOG antibody disease, a rare neurological disease. This health challenge has only served to draw Brian closer to God and bolster the importance of this timely yet ageless message.

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