When Darkness is Everywhere

The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. - Nahum 1:3b

The current storms that have been blasting across the USA reminded me of a time when I traveled from Arizona to Missouri and half the trip was truly by faith since there was so little to see. The snowstorms they are having in Northern Arizona are one thing but when they have white-outs in areas across South-Central California you know there is a lot of mystified and confounded folk!

And, on her birthday today, a good friend and someone who makes my work easier was just informed that her husband has been put on "administrative leave."

No work.

What about the whirlwinds of disease, disaster, and death. What are we to think when the confusion of having a God who loves and cares but where His blessing seems to have dried up? What about the storms of interruptions, irritations, and ill-treatment? Well, if Nahum's words apply to the heavenly sphere or the place of God's control, they also apply to the earthly - to the heartrending contingencies of daily living which never seem to be timely.

Life is filled with God-appointed storms. I for one never like them. I prefer my personal theology which, though wrong, satisfies my desire for a worry and trouble-free life. My personal theology says, "God loves me and His wonderful plan for my life means it's smooth sailing from now on out!"

"But John! How do you know your theology isn't accurate? Maybe you just haven't discovered the secret formula to a life full of success, health and a deep-pocked bank account?" How about this: a sheet of paper ten times the size of this little blog would be insufficient to list the whirlwinds (Nahum's terminology) of our lives and, for some, would be a one-to-one match for those they have experienced.

But two things should comfort us in the midst of daily darkness; the white-out blinding inability to see every detail of the future clearly. First, we all experience them. Second, we all need them. God has no method more effective to not only get our attention and adjust and change our lives; He also has found it fully effective for us to be able to embrace, love, comfort and care for others and, yes, occasionally provide them with answers and solutions they cannot themselves see. The lack of detail and sight to what's next as well as the massive blows and shattering blasts (not to mention the small, constant irritations) smooth us and humble us and force us to submit to the role He has chosen for us at the moment.

William Cowper, the 18th century poet and hymnodist could take the stand in defense of all I have written. He passed through a period of great crisis in his life. Finally one bleak morning he tried to put an end to it all by taking poison. The attempt at suicide failed. He couldn't even successfully kill himself. He then hired a coach and was driven to the Thames River, intending to throw himself from the bridge but was "strangely restrained." The next morning he fell upon a sharp knife but the blade broke! He later tried to hang himself but was found and taken down unconscious . . . still alive. Some time later he took up a Bible, began to read the Book of Romans, and was gloriously changed forever. Jesus became His treasure. The God of the storms had pursued him unto the end and won his heart.

After a rich life of Christian experiences, Cowper sat down and recorded his summary of the Lord's dealings in the familiar words: "God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, / and rides upon the storm."

Before the dust settles, why not ask God to have His way in today's whirlwind and storm? I just reminded myself to be a blessing and comfort to a friend today...tomorrow he will have to do similarly with me.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~