Storms

Go outside.

Look up.

Now look to your left...

Your right.

Take it all in.

What do you see?

For me I see trees, a quiet one lane road that maybe two or three cars drive down during the day. Because I am writing this at night, as I look up I see millions of glittering stars and a tiny airliner flying slowly through the sky. I see the occasional bat and hear the occasional rustle as something scurries through the woods.

You may see a blue sky, white or grey clouds, the sun, birds, trees, buildings, cars, or people. Some may even see darkness and rain, hear loud thunder and see huge bolts of lightening. The point of my exercise and my hope is that by the time you finish reading this post you will see all of these things the way I do, the way God intended us to see them... as beautiful.

There used to be days when I couldn't find the beauty in God's creation. The struggle with sin was overbearing. It was more than I could handle on my own. On more than one occasion I didn't even understand why I was even on this earth anymore. That was until I found the Lord. It was as if my eyes were opened to the beauty around me. Suddenly the battle over sin was easier because I was no longer alone. I didn't have to struggle alone. I saw God's creation as beautiful. I saw His glorious sacrifice in everything around me. 

I suddenly realized that the struggles I faced weren't dead ends or a lost cause they were simply stepping stones to something greater. 

Kind of like a storm; it may seem treacherous when the loud thunder and dangerous lightening begin but when the storm passes and the sun dries the earth, new life is created and what is more beautiful than new life?

Here is a picture to help explain what I mean: 

When it rain it creates water for the plants that then use that water to grow and use the sunlight to create oxygen for us to breathe. Those plants are eaten by the animals that we then eat. Also, the rain provides clean drinking water for those animals to stay healthy enough for us to have healthy animals to eat in order for us to stay healthy and strong. The rain in turn, provides humans with clean drinking water.

So though the storm is treacherous and sometimes it is long and destructive, the benefits and the beauty that lies just around the corner is more magnificent than one could have ever imagined!

What I find most comforting is that when you find yourself under the covers because your storm is too loud and the rain is just too heavy, God will answer if you will just cry out to Him.

In Psalms 116:1-2 David writes:

"I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live."

What a strong and faithful Savior we have! He is there when we call upon Him. So if your storm is overbearing and you fail to see the beauty that is His creation, the science that is His miracle, then call on Him and He will answer in due time. When I fell to my knees in December 2006 and cried to Him asking for Him to save this sinner and show me His love, He opened my eyes to what I now see as the most beautiful place I could have ever imagined! I wake up every morning thanking God for another breath. I look out my window and thank Him for creating such a beautiful world for my enjoyment. Our Father in heaven is not just powerful, merciful, and everything... He is indeed the most incredible artist! So don't see your storms as ugly or scary, see them as beautiful beginnings. God has something great in store for you!