Stars And Clouds

Romans 8:38-39 – For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NRSV)

This evening, I was sitting in my apartment when the windows shook because of the wind outside. For some reason, I have always loved windy days, so I opened the door, walked out into the night, and listened to the wind around me. I looked up and saw my old friend, the Big Dipper, and Orion, the hunter, and the Seven Sisters. It was a clear night, and the stars seemed to shine out more brightly.

Suddenly from one direction came a cloud which covered the stars, and all I could see was this grey mass. As I waited for the wind to blow that cloud away, I found myself thinking that what I was seeing tonight was symbolic of my life at this point in my journey of faith. Out of nowhere a few months before, a very large cloud had come into my life, when my wife of six years asked for a therapeutic separation. That cloud of despair entered into my life and blocked my ability to sense the presence of God — just like the clouds blocked the stars.

I found myself questioning why God had allowed this to happen, and wondering where God was in all that was happening to me, as I moved out of the house, and later was served with divorce papers before the six months was through. I had waited for forty-four years to find a woman to love, and now it was over. I could not see the presence of God because of the clouds of gloom and despair that had blown into my life.

But tonight the wind came up and blew away that cloud up in the sky. One by one, I could see the stars reappear. Seeing them reminded me of God's presence in my life. I believe that God sent the wind to come tonight, so that I would be reminded of His presence, and I am thankful. God has been there all the time. As today's Scripture says, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the wind and the stars and everything else in creation that You made to help us remember that You are indeed in our lives. Be with us as we face cloudy times. May Your Holy Spirit rush in and blow clouds of despair and gloom out of our lives, so that we can once again see Your presence and Your light shining forth in our darkened world. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook