Clouds

I love the mountains. Their endless beauty is astounding! Sitting high above a region and seeing the depths below proves our significance and our insignificance. The grass in the valley is always green. Houses and communities are shielded by the strong elevation around them. Looking up from a valley at the grandeur of a mountain range is equally as humbling. Looking up, shows us there is something to climb and conquer. God knows every needle on each evergreen and each forest creature that scampers upon the forest’s soft floor. A sunset or sunrise is framed by the majesty of the landscape. I’ve not yet had the privilege to travel to the west to see snow-capped mountains or painted desserts, so, my experiences are placed in the forests of Appalachia.

During a trip home from summer vacation, we had spent hours driving through torrential downpours as we were driving along the outskirts of tropical storm Isaias. The rain had finally subsided as the road lead west on our trip. We needed a break and stopped at the highest point in Maryland on Interstate 68. The rest stop connected to two overlooks. One lookout point ran over top of the highway below. We enjoyed stretching our legs and encouraging the truckers to sound their horns as we cheered wildly! The second lookout sat perched alongside of the highway, nestled into the cliff. It was atop an extra-long staircase. To get my blood moving, I decided to jog up that staircase to the lookout, 1,760 feet in elevation. The higher I went, I noticed the fog of below became denser all around me. I was walking on the clouds! I was touching the sky!

Clouds soften the edges of a landscape.

Clouds cause us to seek shelter.

Clouds offer shade.

Clouds bring rain upon parched land.

In the distance, the sun was just beginning to set behind the mountain range. As the clouds enveloped around me, the sunset appeared muted, and I took a brief moment to drink in the sky. As I descended the staircase, I asked the Lord to show me something from this experience. “I come in the clouds,” I heard Him breathe. And His words are always backed by His Word.

Psalm 68:4, 32-33

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
    extol him who rides on the clouds];
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.

Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
    sing praise to the Lord,
 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
    who thunders with mighty voice.

Coming into 2020, we spent much time and prayer planning for where we felt the Lord’s lead on 2020. We spent the beginning of the year casting vision to our church, anticipating milestones with our children and entering a new decade with high hopes. Then the clouds came. Sure, we all love a day with “not a cloud in the sky,” but the clouds actually offer greater interest to the overall picture. Not to mention, there is always a silver lining in every cloud. Looking at situations up close cannot always give us the right perspective. Backing up a bit, even 1,760 feet if needed, can paint a better picture. 

Limited visibility in the physical should only cause us to have a more keen awareness in the spirit.

 And ladies, let us be reminded, that when He returns for His church, He will come in the clouds! (Rev 1:7)

Something more…..

“Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds” is well loved song by Steven Curtis Chapman.  Click on the link and ponder how He is in your cloudscape today!