The clouds swirled sinisterly around. Once tranquil breezes turned into gale force winds. Black and dark grey mixed overhead blotting out the sun. Soon rain fell turning into hail. Big chunks of ice crashed against the hood of the car. Violently the thunder boomed and lightening flashed all around.
We noticed the thickening clouds as we drove home from teaching the Bible. A mix of ominous looking storm clouds from a distance forming in the very direction we were headed. I commented to Brenda that didn't look good. Then we saw the first flash of lightening. Big. Bright. Followed by a crashing earth shaking clap of thunder. A storm formed and it looked to be pretty nasty.
For a moment I thought we might just miss it as we skirted on the edge of it driving down FM 920. Then it rained. Then it turned into a torrential downpour making visibility difficult even with the windshield wipers swishing back and forth at full strength. Next, the hail fell. So hard I feared it might crack the windshield as we veered left and crept down FM 2210 at a snail's pace. It sounded horrible as the hail danced and bounced off the hood. Damage to the vehicle seemed the least of our concerns at the moment. The rain caused some flash flooding making the drive home even more treacherous.
Suddenly it all stopped. The clouds began to blow past. The rain and hail let up. The sun pulled it head from beneath peaked out from the blanket of clouds. Everything went back to normal except the roads were wet. Seldom have I been through a more intense and fast moving storm. Just as fast as it came it ended. We made it home safely without further incident.
That storm is symbolic of life. Storms suddenly blow through. Some of those storms are nasty and cause severe damage. In the middle of them fear sprouts and blooms, anxiety strangles hope, and confusion clouds our minds.
When I lift my eyes to survey the landscape I see suffering abounding. In our small congregation cancer has reared its foul head. People have fallen injuring themselves. Chronic pain debilitates. Heavy burdens weigh people down. Financial stresses snarl and sink their teeth into the lifeblood of faith like a ravenous vampire. Some families get blindsided on all sides by tragedy and adversity at the same time.
In the middle of those storms it is easy to panic and doubt God. His silence is often misinterpreted for His lack of concern or absence. May the following familiar story bring a little comfort and hope into your stormy day. May He speak into your heart and into your storms today.
Mark 4:35-41 (NKJV)
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."
36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"
No comments:
Post a Comment