The Cloudburst - The Christian Online Magazine

http://www.jesusnotjunk.org

Several years ago, my husband and I took a trip to Hawaii to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We signed up for a tour package so we would not have to try to find our way around the island of Oahu or miss any of the “landmark tourist sights.”

One afternoon our group boarded the bus to go to a Hawaiian National Park. Since this was a “romantic getaway” for us, I had taken great pains to look beautiful for the occasion. The weather was hot but a tropical breeze made it pleasant all the time. With every hair in place, my outfit neatly ironed I got on the bus with a vision in my mind of “making a memory” together that would be frozen in time.

We arrived at the location and immediately we could see that it was unlike any park we had been to before. Strolling along, holding hands we set out on our “romantic adventure”. The sun was shining, and with a gentle tropical breeze lightly blowing, it was almost like being in paradise. That is until a wayward raindrop hit me on the head. Before I could even look up to see where it came from we experienced a “cloudburst” that left us both soaking wet.

My husband still looked fine to me. (Love is blind…or so they say) I on the other hand was certain that I looked just like I felt---like a drowned rat. The tears rolled down my cheeks in perfect timing with the raindrops. We were “making a memory” all right but it was not going at all, as I had planned. My hair was plastered to my head like a cupie doll. I was soaked through and completely totally miserable. Most of all, my spirit and enthusiasm were even more dampened then my clothing.

Greg being the fine husband he is did his best to comfort me. Here we were in a beautiful park with banana & coconut trees, soothing Hawaiian music playing, and many sights yet to see. He was not about to let the storm “rain on our parade.” I, being a woman who can cope with sudden unexpected changes--just wanted to go back to the hotel room.

Fortunately, that was impossible so we continued walking through the park. The rain stopped and the tropical breeze began drying out our clothing. My hair, well that was unrecoverable.

In the distance, we saw a beautiful waterfall. As we approached it, there were cliff divers that looked like tiny specks standing at the top. They took turns diving for what seemed like thousands of feet to me. With a pose and beauty, you would have to see to understand it was breath taking to watch. Even more memorable was the vivid rainbow that began to form over the top of the waterfall. It looked painted personally, just for us by the Hand of God.

Had we not continued our journey in the rain we would have missed all of that and many other sights to numerous to mention. I learned that day the importance of continuing to move forward in the storms. Something I would need to apply to my life many times in the coming days.

You see, rain is inevitable. According to Matthew 7:24-27, storms are a normal part of our lives. This is true both naturally and spiritually.

Knowing that storms are inevitable, we must deal with them when they come. There many kinds of storms--some are torrential downpours others are of hurricane proportion. The good news is that for every beginning of every storm there also comes an end.

In the meantime, however the question often emerges “where is God in the storm?” Scripture provides some very specific answers to the question. He is:

With us-“He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Duet 31:6
Protecting us-“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
Comforting us-“I, even I, am He who comforts you.” Is 51:12
Carrying us-"Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that's left of the family of Israel. I've been carrying you on my back from the day you were born, [4] And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old. I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray. I've done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you. Isaiah 46:3-4

Where do you see God in YOUR storm right now? Where have you allowed Him to be? According to Deuteronomy 1:31, He has a plan even in the blinding rain for you. “There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Today, if there is a storm raging in your life, He wants to be your shelter. You are not in this alone. There is no need to run for cover, or hide yourself. You need to cry out to Him and let Your “Abba, Father” pick you up, hold you close and shelter you all the way to your destination. Beautiful sights await you there, His many wonders to behold.