Clouds & Storms

Thunderstorms have been frequent recently, and while I love storms, as the manager of a radio station they make me nervous because storms often mean getting knocked off the air.

 About a week ago, from the comfort and safety of my porch, I watched a huge storm a few miles away with dramatic lighting that seemed to barely move. While it was beautiful and exciting to see the gigantic bolts of lighting I’m sure the folks under that storm were hoping it would pass quickly.

  few nights later I was the one under a storm that seems to sit atop our house forever with a lot of lighting and thunder. Having just received an email that day from someone whose house was hit by lighting, I prayed quite a bit during the storm, which eventually passed with no damage to our house. I thanked the Lord for His protection.

 Despite the concern storms bring, have you ever noticed that the sky is the most interesting before or after a storm? That's when we are treated to a grand variety of huge ominous thunderheads, enormous white cumulus cotton balls and usually a dazzling splash of color as the sun reflects off them after the rain passes.

 Clouds accompany change, bringing rain or snow, or cooler air or a warm breeze. The clouds in our life accompany change as well, and like the fronts that move in with rain or snow, the events and circumstances that bring change to us can move in quickly or slowly. Some linger for what seems an eternity, like that storm the other night, but a few blow in and blow out. Sometimes those changes are welcome, but usually we'd prefer to have a calm, sunny day!

 The Oak Ridge Boys recorded a song a number of years ago entitled “It Takes A Little Rain”, and one of the lines reads " where the sun always shines, there's a desert below, it takes a little rain to make love grow". God, in His infinite wisdom, has blessed us with change...in our world, in our lives and in our hearts, once we come to know Christ. The changes that follow the clouds often upset our plans, both in the physical world and in the spiritual world, and as much as I enjoy clouds and storms in the sky, the clouds in my life are usually met with a frown.

 God continues to reveal to me, though, that the "rain" those clouds bring is often for my benefit; He knows my life would be a desert without some water, and though I may resist the soaking, I sure enjoy the blooms that result! Sometimes, though, we don’t get to see the “blooms” until long after the clouds have passed, or we may not get to see them at all in this life.

 Laura Story wrote a song called “Blessings” which invites us to consider that the clouds, the storms and the trials that God permits in our lives may actually be His blessings in disguise. Inspired by her own struggles with a serious illness that struck her husband soon after their marriage, she beautifully expresses the heartache so many experience and the questions that come with it. However, instead of allowing the trouble to crush her, she allows the Lord to use it as a means of drawing her closer to Him.

 God tells us in His Word that trials, troubles and storms are often used to test our faith, to make us stronger and to bring glory to God. (1 Peter 1:6-9)  However God also promises to be with us as we experience those trying seasons. That is what God wants most of all, to be with us, and us with Him. He wants a relationship with us, with you.

 I want blue skies and calm weather, or I want the clouds and storms without the threat of damage or disruptions and trouble they often bring. The Oak Ridge Boys song and Laura’s brilliant piece are good reminders to me that God knows more than I do and God wants more for me than I want for myself.

The next time clouds fill the sky overhead, take time to enjoy them! God paints some beautiful pictures before and after a storm. When the clouds in your life bring an uneasy feeling, remember He probably sees that you need "watering"! Don't worry, though, He knows just how much we need, and best of all He will stand in the rain with us! Hopefully the storm will pass quickly but if He allows it to linger, even for the rest of your life, He will stay with you through it all.

Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation)

  You can hear Laura’s song on Equip FM. To learn more about a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ click here.