Another Day of Gloom?

“Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

Day after day gloominess overtook the sun. Rain and clouds dominated. The Sunshine State didn’t live up to its appealing name.

            I longed for sunshine sparkling on the lake. Cheerful flowers. Blue sky with fluffy, white clouds dancing across it. But heavy clouds remained. 

            To make matters worse, weather forecasters predicted an approaching hurricane. More rain, wind and storms would hit the state. 

            Thankfully, the hurricane missed us and caused minimal damage in our state.  In spite of the dark days, God prodded me to be thankful. 

            I needed to look for glimmers of light. Weeks earlier drought lowered lakes and wildfires were predicted. Then rain raised bodies of water past normal levels and refreshed the parched earth. Flowers revived. Grass greened up. Ducks splashed in the rain. 

            Bees continued to visit droopy flowers. A mama cardinal plucked worms from soggy ground. Papa stood watch from a low branch. 

            Cypress limbs, heavy with water, swayed in the breezes. A songbird’s tune drifted through the rain. A doe and her two fawns romped on the shore across the lake. 

            When I looked for God in the midst of the dismal weather, a sense of tranquility wrapped me like a warm shawl, providing rest and peace. 

            God often slows us down to relax, learn and prepare us for what lies ahead. Be thankful. Listen for His still, small voice and look for blessings in the trials.  

Heavenly Father, it is easy to complain about life’s difficult circumstances. Help me be thankful and look for You in each situation. Amen

Turbulent Times

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling…“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 (WEB)

A never-ending barrage of angry waves crashed on the shore. Dark clouds blocked the sun. Only a few brave souls ventured into the intense winds as the high tide pushed water farther and farther up the beach. 

            Winds died down that evening. Waves calmed. Water receded and exposed more of the beach. Clumps of brown seaweed littered the white sand. I shook my head at the blight on the normally pristine beach. During my evening walk I zigzagged through the slimy mess. 

            At the beginning of my vacation, I loved the beauty of the endless beach. But then turbulent winds churned the water, pulled up unsightly seaweed, and spit it out as refuse.  After the storm, I wanted the tides to retrieve the rubbish and return it to the ocean. 

            Down the beach hundreds of sand pipers scampered to the seaweed and stuck their long beaks into the ugly masses for morsels of food. The birds weren’t afraid of what looked horrible. What appeared to me as an unwelcome blight was beneficial for them. 

            As the pandemic spit out one mess after another on the world, everything seemed terrible and devastating. However, we can lament the shambles left behind or trust God and look for blessings within them. 

Loving Father, we don’t understand all of the chaos and upheaval, but You are not surprised. Help us trust You and show us the blessings in the midst of the messes. Amen 

Surprise from Mutilated Plants

 

But we *do* know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose. Romans 8:28 (Darby)

 

 

Several weeks ago, landscapers trimmed my hedges but also scalped flowers along my patio. I fumed about the damage they did to flowers I had enjoyed each morning when I sat on my patio. I cringed each time I saw the mutilated plants. 

 

            Little by little green leaves covered stubby stems. Buds opened with white, yellow and orange blooms. Bees returned to sample nectar. 

 

            When I ventured outside to pull weeds and carefully prune plants, surprises awaited. Mutilated greenery grew back fuller. Seeds dropped and produced an abundance of new ones. In fact, they overpowered many of those I had planted. 

 

            For an hour, I pulled out excess plants and trimmed back overgrown stems so that smaller plants could thrive. Reluctantly, I admitted that the distressing pruning didn’t cause lasting harm. My annoyed reaction gave way to an appreciation of a more lovely garden. 

 

            Unwelcome pruning comes into lives too. Loved ones pass away. Relationships are severed. Jobs disappear. Comfortable lives fill with uncertainty and pain. Anguish, loneliness and loss follow intense pruning. 

 

            Like my flower garden, the altered life often contains surprises of beauty, joy and growth. What we initially see as complete destruction can be used by God to create an improved masterpiece.  

 

Loving Father, when we feel life is falling apart, you can take the pieces and weave them into something beautiful. Amen