A Finicky Forecast

Two hours ago the sun was bright, the sky dabbled in clouds, the air hot and heavy.... a summer Saturday demanding A/C and an ice cold pop. Yet weather changes rapidly, as I often forget. At the moment the light coming in the window has dimmed, forcing me to flip light switches all over the house in the middle of the day; the trees are being blown around forcefully, and a storm is eminent. Not a promising evening to view the Maple Grove fireworks. Yet, in another two hours, maybe this will all pass and the sun will return in its summertime splendor. How interesting meteorology is, and how akin to life! Rough patches of weather and veritable "storms" pop up on our weather screens constantly, day to day almost, and yet as soon as they come, they often disappear. The sun comes out, the flowers bloom larger than before, and we forget the storms ever existed.

I'm thankful today for a God who sticks around no matter what the weather forecast. For a God who knows the weather forecast for tomorrow, the next day, and the next year.... in the U.S., China, Antarctica, and in every other place. His power surpasses the wind and the waves. I love how in Matthew 14 Jesus, weary from a day of healing people and feeding thousands - and from the news of the cruel death of his close friend John the Baptist - awakes from a much-needed nap to calm a storm. It came out of nowhere. His disciples freaked out. The last thing Jesus needed was a reason to wake up and do one more thing... he'd done so much already that day! But the Son of God awoke and spoke to the wind and the waves. Instantly the storm ended, and his disciples were amazed.

Whether you're experiencing a storm or the carefree, happy moments of summer, always remember that there is who controls the weather and all of life's victories and disappointments. As someone at work said yesterday, "Everything happens for a reason. I know it sounds cheesy, but I believe it!" We can't control meteorology, but God will use it to water the crops, tan the sunbathers, and do a million other things. Same with life.