Storms

God was just teaching me about storms.

I was thinking about how storms are so beautiful. From the crazy cloud patterns to the brilliant flashes of lightning to the swirling vortex of tornadoes to the colors that don't show up in the sky at any other time to wind that tends to make nature look like it's dancing..

But how many times do we, as human beings, miss the opportunity to view this overwhelming beauty because we're scared? Because we're focused on seeking shelter or are afraid that the wild, untamed power of nature is going to harm us?

But the truth is, storms are not untamed. All storms are held in the palm of God's mighty right hand because He holds the entire world in His hands. All He has to do is speak "Peace," and all will grow calm. The power of storms pales in comparison to the power of the mighty Jehovah God.

Did you know that God has chosen to sit on a throne surrounded by thunder, lightning, a rushing river, and whirlwinds? that the God of the universe basically resides in the middle of a tornado? and yet we fear storms..

Thinking about storms in the physical has prompted me to examine spiritual storms. I think that many times we miss the beauty of the process because we're so focused on self-preservation and survival. But some of the most beautiful moments of our walk with our Savior happen when we feel like the world around us is falling apart or coming to crush us.

It reminds me of a quote from the Cleansing Stream video last night. Something alone the lines of, "if it's going to be funny in the future, you might as well laugh at it now."

I'm not going to lie.. being purified hurts. Being tried by flames isn't easy.

But maybe it's not all about waiting for the storm to pass. Maybe it's about learning to see the beauty during the storm. learning to trust that God has the storm under control and will yell PEACE before anything as the chance to crush you. maybe it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Cliche. But maybe.