Clouds and Sky

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.^‘ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat… And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?^‘ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?^‘ And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” Mark 4:35-41

I looked out the window
And saw only grey,
Looming and charcoal,
Will rain soak the day?

Here at my perch
With limited view
My attitude darkens
Beginning to stew

Slopping and dripping
My hours will be spent,
It’s bound to be soggy
And inconvenient

I fret and I whine
Reconsider my plans
How I might change them
And give up demands

After all don’t I have
The right to arrange
To serve my good pleasure
Void anything strange?

To manage my wants
And doings and ways,
To spend as I choose my Resources and days?

As I desire
Without conflict or pause
I want to do my thing
No defending my cause!

Then I go and look farther
And see now the cloud
Low in vast blue
No longer so loud

It’s a beautiful mess
In one part of the whole
Designed by my God
To show me my soul

It’s threat is not all
I will face in my day
But reveals the dark tendency
I must put away

I rue what is hard
I want what is easy
My time to go my way
Unfettered and breezy

Now seeing the obstacles
As part of the whole
God’s blesséd design
And purposeful goal

Considering Jesus
His love and His pain
I see that rich life comes
From sun and from rain

My Savior endured
The worst men could give
Surrendered and willing
So believers can live

With hope and deep joy
Through all kinds of days
As we learn to accept
And keep on and praise

To dwell on clouds only
Is hopeless and dreary
Blocking out the vast sky
Spreads infectious misery

What clouds now shadow Stirring up my mood Dampening optimism Causing me to brood?

Why not behold
The expanse He spreads wide
And rejoice that He’s Sovereign
Through it all by my side?

Over stormy and pleasant
His hand’s in control
To teach of His grace
And sustaining of soul

To show me His providence
In every kind of weather
His strength all-sufficient
His favor and pleasure

He paints the broad picture
He writes the whole story
For the good of His people
To shine forth His glory

So when I look out
Sense the grumbling begin
Look wider and trust Him
And praise Him again! (PEB)

Lord, help me receive and rejoice in Your design of each day, and praise Your majesty in all I feel, do, and say.