Years ago I was doing the “Experiencing God” Bible study as part of a small group ministry at my church. Something happened as part of that study that I have never forgotten and has profoundly impacted my view of life.
It is relevant now because I am writing and publicly sharing some of my perspective with you. It was in a moment of doing that study that God adjusted my vision. I don’t remember the exact specifics of the study but essentially we were supposed to go find a place outside and sit until we experienced God.
It was winter and Ohio. I was not thrilled to be sitting outside waiting on God. He seldom moves as quickly as I think I want Him to. I mean we were deep in the gray blahs of winter. Everything outside looked gray or brown and on this particular day it was extra cloudy. I don’t remember having any specific issues that were troubling me that day but it sure had a depressing look outside.
I was committed to the study, though. I bundled up and went outside to sit on my deck. I can only imagine what the neighbors thought. I mean the patio furniture was put up for the winter even. I sat on the steps. I don’t know how long I sat there. But I prayed and just sat in the cold, listened and looked at the tree limbs, the dead grass and the gray, cloudy sky. My cheeks got red from the cold. My nose ran. My butt hurt from sitting on the cold steps.
As I was sitting there trying to keep my mind focused, a small hole opened up in the clouds and there was this wonderful burst of bright blue sky. It stuck out like a sore thumb. I won’t say that I heard God, but in that exact moment of searching to experience Him it was like I felt Him. The thought that overwhelmed my mind was, “The blue sky is always here. The clouds pass.”
It is simple and borders on cheesy, I know. But it feels as profound to me today as it did that day, probably 18 or so years ago now. I have thought of that so often as the various storms of life pass by. It gives me great hope to know that even on the darkest, stormiest days, the blue sky is still there. Just because I can’t see the pretty, the calm, the secure feeling or the happy that a blue sky brings, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. On the contrary, it never leaves.
I’ve shared that story with a few people over the years and it always seems to be appropriate. It’s not a quick fix to any problem. It will not cure disease, stop bad things from happening or storm clouds from rolling in. But, it does make me appreciate the blue sky times all the more. To this day, it reminds me that everything has its season and God is in control through all of them.
Whether we choose to sit and wait for the clouds to pass or we decide to chase the blue sky is less important than the gift of knowing it’s always there.
