As the rain and snow

“Has a nation changed its gods,
even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water…

“Moreover, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes
have shaved the crown of your head.
Have you not brought this upon yourself
by forsaking the Lord your God,
when he led you in the way?
And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Your evil will chastise you,
and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
for you to forsake the Lord your God;
the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts…

“Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.” Jeremiah 2:11-13,16-19,22

“Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14

Thirst is a natural urge, yet we humans sample many liquids that never quench. Often we keep returning, foolishly thinking more of the same—- cheap entertainment, illicit or excessive substances, strange gods—- will finally satiate, but bad water never does. Thirst of soul will gnaw all life long until it is satisfied in the Lord alone.

What keeps us changing gods? Is it because we have dismissed the true One? Man is fickle and flirty beyond repair when he forsakes living water for devices of his own design and taste. A restless spirit remains so when it seeks everything but truth, yet the one who sets his mind on Christ will be kept in peace. Which strange and bitter rivers, whose cisterns, what false beliefs are keeping us from the water that truly quenches? (Isaiah 26:3)

It is vital to recognize the polluted rivers that attract us, and turn the other way. We need to name beliefs and attitudes that are apostasy, and return to the Lord. And when we take our guilt to Him and claim Christ’s substitutionary death for us, we are free to drink from Him life forever. Allelujah! (1 John 1:9)

“I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee ev’ry hour,
Stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r
When Thou art nigh.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Ev’ry hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.” ~Robert Lowry (1872)

Lord, lead me in my thirst to Your living water, and fill me to overflow so others may taste it too.

“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?^’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this^?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.” Matthew 22:15-22

The trouble with the Pharisees is they couldn’t escape the truth. Their efforts to entangle Jesus were thwarted by the very claims they spoke: He was true and could not be tricked. No matter the vehemence of their sinister motive and strategy to ruin His influence, His majesty would stand immovable and incorruptible. Their plotting turned to marveling as He was simply Himself and upturned their ruse into bewilderment, ending the conversation with a hush.

And the beautiful thing about God is He always takes us higher and deeper than we ever imagined and leaves us in wonderment. He not only thwarts our ill intentions but furthers His redemptive ones. He not only upends our earthly thinking but elevates His eternal mindset. Dealing with Jesus will always restructure our outlook, reorder our longings, and enrich our souls. The paltry attempts we take to Him are transformed to magnify His wisdom, kindness, and grace.

Don’t we realize we cannot deter the Lord’s will and ways? That there is no plan of man that can succeed against Him? Finagling with Scripture’s moral standards and attempts to justify decisions and behavior abhorrent to Him will never succeed. We cannot trick Jesus into being or approving something He is not and does not. No amount of cultural pressure, threat of ruin, or intent for demise can overpower what God has spoken and ordained. (Job 5:12; 42:2; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 14:24)

Where do we attempt to fool the all-knowing God? Have we entertained or ignored any taint of malice, deception, or pride within that needs to be reckoned with by naming and confession? What ignorance of His ways, or dismissing of His truth, causes callousness in our hearts? What ingrained tendencies to take false advantage or be conniving have distanced us from His grace? How will we pray, and when will we surrender and hush, so we can humbly fear and devotedly gaze in awe at the royal Jesus? (Matthew 22:29; 1 John 1:9)

Lord, purify me through and through to approach You always with pure motives. Keep me fearing You, ever dumbfounded and marveling at Your greatness and wisdom. Matthew 22:46

“I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

“One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

“The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works…
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to all who call on him…in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1-13,16-21

David’s song supposes many truths that make melody natural and uncontainable. The unique God and King is his, personal, knowable, and real. He is worthy of praise, His name above all others and deserving of exaltation. He is Himself great beyond description or knowing, supreme and superior to any other authority or power. His majesty is splendid and deeds are mighty and wondrous, awesome and great. His goodness is abundant and righteousness pure. His character is flawless, full of mercy, grace, patience, and steadfast love. And all of these and all of His are ongoing, infinite, and eternal! (1 Chronicles 17:20)

Indeed God is eternal, but David, because of His grace, will live eternally to give Him everlasting honor and praise. Those image-bearers who are born again will from generation to generation sing of His enduring dominion, faithfulness, and kindness. Ongoing praise will resound for a benevolent majestic ongoing Regent who rules, provides, and keeps. (John 3:16)

Have I joined the chorus of eternal rejoicing? What worldly distractions nag, what negativity pesters, to take my mind off of God’s worthiness? What residue of complaint or self-absorption sullies whole hearted praise? How will I establish a habit of ongoing laud and honor to the Lord in work and home? What part of today will I give to forever exaltation of my God?

Lord, while I have breath and being, may I sing the praise You deserve to magnify Your splendor before others and spread wide Your fame. (Psalm 146:1-2)

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?.. You go into the vineyard too.’ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages…’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?’” Matthew 20:1-15

“Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” John 21:22

It is sadly natural to go about our days in a garrison of comparison. We justify opinions and rights by measuring our acumen against others. We defend our actions and deserts with self-assessed righteousness. We deem ourselves morally superior and deserving of God’s better favor than those around us. We strut with swagger from our pride-erected platforms and demote or diminish others who live by a different compass or talent.

How different things look when we view them with God’s lens. How changed our focus, how upright the standard. Suddenly we are undone under the high and holy King and His angelic minions, and all defenses dissolve. Any greatness or reward we own comes by serving Him and others, and is His alone to commend. (Proverbs 27:2; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew 20:26-27)

How and where have we erected fortresses of pomp and self righteousness? Do we demand notice, obedience, or reward in the workplace, or credit, accolades, or relief at home? Do we treat others with disdain as lesser than us, or as more important than ourselves? How would we interact differently if we descended from our pomp and considered colleagues and neighbors as fellow image-bearers and church members as co-heirs? What would change in our worship if we looked to and followed Jesus only? (Genesis 1:15-17; Matthew 17:5-8; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:28-29; Ephesians 3:6; Philippians 2:3-4)

Father, have Your way with all of me. Fix my contentment in You alone as my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

“‘Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her who is married,’ says the Lord.
‘Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your offspring will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.

‘Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.

For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off…
For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,’
says the Lord, your Redeemer…

‘I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
and will not rebuke you.’” Isaiah 54:1-8,9

“For his anger is but for a moment,
and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Moments of sorrow, seasons of destitution, abandonment, agonizing trials, are just that… moments. Temporary. Finite. In our human concept of time they may seem forever, but in God’s grand economy, He measures the little while of bitter and knows its end. In the meantime, we are to sing, prepare expectantly, and with increasing faith look to Him to fulfill His promises. He will bring the sweet to teach us relief and allow us to know His mercy. And grace, nearness, healing, restoration. He is the Redeemer who restores what locusts have eaten. (Joel 2:24-27; 1 Peter 5:10)

What choke of grief, rut of immobility, or famine of passion or vitality has ensconced us for far too long? Over what questions do we agonize, certain they’ll never be answered? Our experience of God can be enriched if we choose to see present barrenness as a brief moment ordained by Him for our good and His glory.

Where will we widen our tent pegs to learn new facets of God’s character, to look beyond despair and disgrace to glorious hope? To what promises will we cling as we anticipate joy’s dawning?

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” ~George Keith (1787)

Lord, in the present moment grant me an eternal perspective and forever hope.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.  I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,  for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33b-37

“What comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person… But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.  These are what defile a person.” Matthew 15:11b,18-20a

“No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?  Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” James 3:8-12

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Hebrews 13:15

The human heart is abundantly full, and lips are active and powerful to build and destroy. Jesus’s warnings tie together this thumping vessel of passion, preference, and emotion with that instrument of expression to make sense and pack a forceful punch. Each is irretrievably connected to the other, and His children need not only be aware, but be careful.

With what do I fill my heart, and how am I tending it? What I look on and entertain, how I filter my senses and media input, where I covet or exercise self-control will determine its contents. When do I regularly take stock of the favoritism, resentment, malice, prurience, and arrogance I’ve let take up residence there? When will I spend time in focused, uninterrupted confession of the sin I’ve suckled, coddled, and continued there to the point of ignorance or tolerance, and refill with the Spirit? (Ephesians 5:18)

Are those around me at home and work embittered, poisoned, or nourished by the fruit of my lips? Where do I intentionally use my mouth to bless and upbuild and multiply gladness? (Ephesians 5:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

When we consistently take in the Word, allowing the divine Farmer to sow it deep in our hearts, it will take root and grow. The Lord will watch over to perform it. Our words will become His. Our lips will bring forth much fruit for those around us by way of encouragement, consolation, and truth that transforms. It will also spill over in thanksgiving, honor, and praise to God. (Jeremiah 1:9,12; Matthew 13:43; 1 Corinthians 14:3)

Oh Lord, so fill my heart with gratitude and grace that my lips ever pour forth Your praise.

“But the people of Israel broke faith.., for Achan… took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned…

“So about three thousand men went up [to Ai]. And… the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them… and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

“Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening… ‘Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?’

“The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Get up!.. Israel has sinned;.. they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies… I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people.'” Joshua 7:1,4-13a

Joshua had led Israel on dry ground across the overflowing Jordan River, then commandeered the remarkable fall of Jericho. God was fulfilling His promises to this successor to Moses in marvelous ways. Now this? Such a significant setback at Ai? In his troubled confusion, Joshua rightly went immediately to the Lord, but wrongly assumed of Him ill motives. His Lord GOD corrected his thinking and reset his perspective. This would be His conquering, not only of Canaan but of Israel’s heart. His holy name would be upheld. (Joshua 3:14-17; 6:15-16,20,24; 7:20)

To gain proper thinking we may assume the power and holiness of God, because His character is pure and consistent. We slip into mottled assumptions when we think too highly of ourselves and fail to beware the absolute truth of “no not one.” Left to ourselves, even armed with the most earnest intentions, we can fall to greed, deceit, covetousness, pride. Instead of questioning God we should search ourselves to uncover sin we’ve justified or placated, and come clean. Regular worship, surrender, and realigning with God’s holy word keeps us in check. (Joshua 8:30-35; Romans 3:10; 12:3)

Where are we making sloppy assumptions about God, assigning motives to Him not befitting His righteousness and glory? Where are we blaming God for consequences rightly suffered? In what situations do we refuse culpability by excusing wrong behavior in ourselves or covering for it in others? How might our reactions to hard circumstances change if we assumed our Sovereign had our best and redemptive interest in mind?

We can be sure of God’s goodness and stand on right assumptions about His generous mercy and unfailing love. He bids us come and return to Him, to confess our sin and go forth in freedom, clinging to His trustworthy promises. (Psalm 33:4; Zechariah 1:3; 1 John 1:7-9)

Lord God, correct all my wrong assumptions and keep my understanding and decisions rooted in Your truth and character. To You be all wisdom, power, and praise. (Daniel 2:20)

“Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me..: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair…

“You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth four cubits… Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise… in the second set. Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain in the second set… And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole…

“You shall overlay the frames with gold and shall make their rings of gold for holders for the bars, and you shall overlay the bars with gold. Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown.

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen… with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.” Exodus 25:2-4; 26:1-6,29-34

The making of the tabernacle was a detailed, exquisite effort, with every instruction spelled out by a loving, meticulous, purposeful God. Designer, Architect, Creator, Teacher, the Lord was behind, over, and above all that was made, and the object for whose glorious presence it would exist. Therefore, it was significant that cherubim shall be skillfully worked into the fine twined linen of curtain and veil that would encompass and protect the holy structure.

Cherubim were created heavenly beings. They guarded Eden from the exiled Adam and Eve, so they would not re-enter, eat from the tree of life and live forever in their sin. Cherubim were strange, heavenly creatures that adored God on His throne. Satan was a guardian cherub before his fall. Throughout the scriptures they played a role of mystery and limited majesty, orchestrated by the Divine and ministering under His authority and for His splendor. (Genesis 3:24; Psalm 8:4-5; Ezekiel 1:1b,4-5,11; 28:12-15; Revelation 4:6-8)

How often do we go about our duties and days, never thinking of weaving God’s resplendence into our moments? How might we add a spirit of wonder to our imagination, heavenly grace into our speech, or divine love in our interactions with others? In tending to details and deadlines, how will we include and reflect the glorious One who has given us both assignment and craft?

Lord, show me where and how I can add cherubim to my living today, so others can glimpse Your beauty and worth.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified…

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
    my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness...
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
    and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
    to sprout up before all the nations.

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
    and her salvation as a burning torch.” Isaiah 61:1-3,10-11; 62:1

What a calling the Lord has issued to His own! One who has experienced the Word’s transforming power and is therefore indwelt by His Spirit cannot help but overflow with the bounty and beauty of the new life he’s received. The Spirit of the Lord is powerful and in many ways irrepressible, yet an unyielding, pride-filled heart can quench His prodding. A pliable, willing believer who cherishes his salvation receives the Lord’s anointing as a stewardship of grace and blessing for the eternal benefit of others and ultimate glory of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:19)

When I acknowledge I am poor, wretched, and blind, I cherish God’s amazing love and mercy. When I am broken-hearted over my sin offense against His holiness, and trust Christ’s atoning punishment on my behalf, I will sing of His freeing grace. The forgiveness I’ve received far beyond my deserving will express itself in generous forgiveness and an urgency to tell how to be released forever. (Matthew 6:12; Ephesians 4:32; Revelation 3:17)

What am I doing with the wealth of scriptural truth entrusted to me? What keeps me from exercising the Spirit’s anointing to proclaim eternal liberty and administer comfort? Is my heart cold from hurt, prejudice, or selfishness with my time and attention? Do I avoid or discount people as unworthy, or impossible, and withhold kindness and the best news? What need I confess and surrender for the Lord to stoke passion for others’ salvation?

How does my life detract from the balm, fragrance, or attractiveness of Christ? How might my attitudes or words be breaking the spirit of a child, dissuading an adult from identification with Christ, or robbing Him of His glory? What change will conviction yield? (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11; 2 Corinthians 2:15-17; Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 4:6)

Lord, stir my heart embers of accountability to Your call. May I gratefully, gladly, and boldly proclaim Your grace and power, for others’ everlasting good and my Savior’s glory.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path…
 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple…
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I hope in your words.” Psalm 119:105,130,147

“The sun shall be no more
    your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
    give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
    nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your days of mourning shall be ended.” Isaiah 60:19-20

Darkness pales as the king of day approaches. Slowly he ascends his throne. His blazing scepter illuminates the delicate edges of every mass, marking them with glory. The longer the gaze, the more distinct shines the outline of predawn clouds. They hover and roil, looming or blocking light, making for a different kind of dark, but still there is the fire, always present, always elucidating the finger-traced divine.

We sometimes awaken with a gloom that weighs down our hours, long hours. We rue life’s clouds, the heaping heavy of circumstances, the violence of temptation that flares in our hearts, the thick sadness of loss and impossibility and broken dreams. They choke normal peaceful breathing, they block clear and hopeful vision.

But when we wait and watch, we see the glimmer of bright in God’s purposes, His abiding radiant presence that gives meaning to grace in the midst, and redemption. We sense the inimitable, penetrating light, and can calm long enough to marvel, to trust. We understand that He’s bound all the edges, knows our limits and stops the tumult from going an inch further, and shelters from the rain. (Psalm 91:1; 104:5-9; Proverbs 8:29; Joel 2:25; 2 Corinthians 12:9)

Think how much of God’s tender care and grace to us we miss because of fretting and worry. Imagine the beauty we fail to see in the midst of our complaining and brooding. What situations, what clamor, what busy distractions from significance are we allowing to accumulate in our day-to-day, making fresh thought and hope-filled joy impossible? Where has temporal mess or pain eliminated an eternal perspective?

Where can we trace the hand of God’s mercy and sufficiency in our personal clouds? Where has His glory shone bright in our gloom? We would do well to remember, and to express gratitude. What lessons have we learned in stormy days and seasons about our default sin tendencies, character flaws, self-righteousness and pride? About God’s fortifying presence and deliverance, and the sweet hidden joys of salvation? How has God used these times to reveal Himself, and wean us from ourselves? How have we grown in intimacy with our Maker?

If we are not experiencing these gifts, could it be that we can’t let go of resentment over the way things have turned out, or not? Could we too stubbornly think we should be able to control means and outcomes? Might we be reticent to dethrone anger because it’s justified, and we want resolution now? What would change if we thanked God for the clouds and looked for His light therein?

Lord, help me trust that in every vale You are with me, and every shadow cloud is lit by and for Your glory. (Psalm 23:4)