Clouds From Above

“But when I thought how to understand this,
    it seemed to me a wearisome task,
until I went into the sanctuary of God;
    then I discerned their end.” Psalm 73:16-17

“‘O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?
Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.
So the law is paralyzed,
    and justice never goes forth.
For the wicked surround the righteous;
    so justice goes forth perverted.’

‘Look among the nations, and see;
    wonder and be astounded.
For I am doing a work in your days
    that you would not believe if told…’

‘Are you not from everlasting,
    O Lord my God, my Holy One?..
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil
    and cannot look at wrong,
why do you idly look at traitors
    and remain silent when the wicked swallows up
    the man more righteous than he?..
I will take my stand at my watchpost
    and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me.'” Habakkuk 1:2-5,12-13; 2:1

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5b

Hard things cloud our vision. When we encounter loss- of mobility, eyesight, general health, a job, a loved one- it is difficult to see through to the other side, and if our minds attempt to go there, it is dark and depressing. When obstacles of misunderstanding, disagreement, resentment, false accusation, or jealousy occur, the way forward in relationships seems impenetrable. With progress bleak, it’s natural to remain in a spiritual and mental fog.

But what if we were to upend that perspective, and look at the clouds from above rather than below? There is more light in that expanse. What if we were to cast off their weight and climb high to view the infinite vista? What if we would take on the grand heavenly and eternal perspective rather than the bleak earthly and temporal? If the highest heavens cannot contain our God, isn’t this where we’d choose to dwell, where He is doing the unbelievable and everlasting? (2 Chronicles 2:6; Romans 11:33-36)

Too often we weary ourselves trying to figure out God’s whats and whys, when all could be well with our souls if we rested in His Who. We languish underneath clouds of woe when the Lord beckons us upward through the troubles to see His plan, His provision, His answers. When our pain is deep, will we look to the triumph of the cross? When relationships are strained, can we apply the grace of His reconciliation with us? When sight is diminished, can I take hope in one day seeing perfectly the face of my Savior? (Hebrews 12:2; 1 John 3:2)

Father, help me see todays trials as light and momentary, and every cloud You send as tinged with Your light from above. May I always listen and look for Your glory.