I’ve been reading devotions and blogs for a few years now and I am always amazed at how people seem to be able to take small, everyday things like washing dishes or looking at the ordinary sights of nature, and turn them into an experience from God. I’ve honestly envied it and thought “How do they do that” or “Why can’t I do that?” I mean, after all, I am creative; there is no reason why I can’t come up with something. After some time passed, I would forget about the awesome way a writer tied her mundane task of vacuuming the living room floor into a lesson from God and continue about my daily life.
As my relationship with God has grown over the last year, I have realized that the reason I wasn’t seeing God in the everyday, ordinary things was because I wasn’t connected with Him. Sure I prayed and read my bible, and then I went about the rest of my day, not thinking about it again until it was time to do it all over again. However, with my focus being more on God over the last several months, I have noticed God in ways that I never have before; which brings me to my main point.
The first time I noticed this particular wonder was toward the end of last summer when I was struggling with some anxiety. I have a dear friend who was also going through a struggle at the time, and the Lord was using each of us to encourage the other. On this particular morning, I was driving into work. It’s a 35-40 minute drive, which gives me a lot of time to think about things, which isn’t always a good thing! This day; however, it was a good thing. It was a very dreary looking day; dark clouds and the signs of a storm coming. I was only a few miles from work and I had been looking at these dark clouds for almost 40 miles, not to mention, I was feeling pretty dreary and defeated myself. Out of nowhere, there was a break in the clouds, not a big one, but I could see light shining through a small hole in the clouds and the sun shine and blue sky peeking through. In that moment where I was feeling defeated and worn out, I could hear God whispering to me that although all I could see at the time were dark storm clouds, He was still there, shining just as brightly in my life as He always is.
I had a similar experience today, which brought to mind my previously mentioned experience. I wasn’t feeling emotionally anxious, but physically anxious and experiencing some small anxiety attacks. The sky was dark and it was pouring rain when I left work. After I drove for a few miles, in the distance I could see the bright colors of the sun setting, not a grey cloud in sight.
God is always there, even in the storms of my life. I know, it’s super cliché to say, but He is there. The day I saw the blue sky peeking through the storm clouds, I was amazed. Never had I thought about that even though the clouds were dark, behind it the sun was still shining. It continues to amaze me when I stop and think about it. So often we see only the circumstance that is right in front of us and struggle with figuring out how to make it through. But if we stop and remember, that God is still God and He is still shining in all His glory, even through our darkest times, it will give you peace, it will give you hope.
Romans 8:24-25 says “24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (ESV) That hope that is ahead, that is always there even during the hardest times of our lives, is only found in salvation through Jesus Christ. Without that, there would be no reason to be hopeful for the future. Without the promise that He has given in His word that one day I will spend eternity with Him without pain, suffering, tears, or heartache, I would have no reason to hope, and no reason to notice the sun shining through the darkness.
Graceful Living 