Fickle Weather

 

Photo by Joshua Thompson

It's supposed to snow again this week, maybe tomorrow. But right now the sun is shining and from inside my window the warm rays feel like Spring is with us. 

The weather changes so quickly, especially as Spring approaches. We'll get ready to believe the warm weather is permanent only to be blasted again with snow and ice. We'll drag our boots and gloves back out of the winter storage box, kicking ourselves for putting them away so quickly. Out will come the window scraper and shovel and we'll put that extra ten minutes back into our morning routine for shoveling and scraping. Here in Minnesota we don't put those things away until May, we don't want to get too hopeful, after all. 

Unpredictable, even nasty weather reminds me of life, don't you think? Just when things are looking up, life blasts us with more cold circumstances or icy feelings of discouragement for no apparent reason.

Nature mimics life's uncertainty, but nature also reminds us of the sure nature of God's character. For we know deep down that Spring will come, then Summer, then Fall again and so on. The seasons continue throughout the ages, just as they always have. Consistent. On this we can rely, just as we can on God's character. This is where we build our bridge spanning the turbulence of life. We stand on Him during the storms that rage like our rock of Gibraltar.

God's character, his goodness, faithfulness, wisdom and sovereignty allow us to trust that He is indeed at work. He will bring us through the storms of life, not only as survivors, but as successful.

Even though the weather patterns change, the seasons remain the same. Take heart. 

^{Psalm 107:19-32}

 ^"19Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

   ²⁰He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

   ²¹Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

   ²²And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

   ²³They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

   ²⁴These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

   ²⁵For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

   ²⁶They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

   ²⁷They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.

   ²⁸Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

   ²⁹He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

   ³⁰Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

   ³¹Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

   ³²Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders."