Considering clouds is a daily delight of mine. They float past my mountainside home at eye level, causing me to reflect on their character, shape, and miraculous design. Clouds can mean many things to us, but it is important never to lose sight of the fact that they are creations of God, meant to make us stop and contemplate on His greatness and creativity.
2MefromHim Devotionals
Considering Clouds
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge? Job 37:16
Considering clouds causes me to reflect on their miraculous manifestation of the glory of God. They affect our mood and sometimes change our plans, but always fill me with wonder. Scripture speaks often of clouds as hiding God’s glory from blinding us, as guiding our way, as both protection and warning.
At almost 7200 feet in altitude, clouds floating past the large picture windows of my mountain home always grab my attention. Here in the Southwest, they often start out big and fluffy, but the promised rain fails to materialize, beautiful, yet disappointing. Other times, they pour down torrents of rain, nurturing our drought-stricken landscape with blessed moisture.
My father-in-law was a great appreciator of clouds. Living in The Netherlands for half of his life, part of it during the Nazi occupation of WWII, he had seen plenty of clouds, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps the blue skies of the Southwest made him appreciate clouds more because they are not always the harbingers of storms.
When we moved to the mountains, we thought the sun would set quickly, causing us to miss the brilliant colors of the evening sky. Wrong! The altitude seems to allow for more interesting cloud formations, streaked with amazing colors every day. My favorite was the pink thunderstorm one summer evening, far across the valley, catching the last rays of the setting sun.
Life is full of clouds, a sudden job change, unexpected illness, a broken relationship, or a premature death. We can’t choose the kind of clouds that enter our lives. Sometimes clouds bring frightening storms we can’t escape and we cry out for help. Clouds can forewarn of storms, but their absence may not always portend a perfect day.
One thing is certain, clouds will come, but more certain than clouds is the love and care of my heavenly Father. He promises to stand by my side through the storms, just as He rejoices with me in the good times.
Developing the habit of appreciating clouds makes me more open to the working of God in my life, and less fearful of the storms. Looking for God in the clouds and storms of life enables me to trust Him for the sunshine to come. Clouds may hide the sky, but God is always there. Spend time considering clouds and what they reveal about the God of Creation.
© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 26, 2015 & August 25, 2017
About the author:
Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Website: www.normagail.org
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/
Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE
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Book Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170
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