Encouragement
It seems that just about everyone has their own individual quirk, or peculiarity and there is one to which I don't mind admitting - you might call me a "cloud nut." Now, cloud-gazing is not something that I spend hours on end doing, but when the opportunity presents itself, I do enjoy turning my eyes upward for a few moments, getting caught up in the relaxing pastime of watching the clouds.
You don't have to be a meteorologist to notice the variety of cloud formations that exist. There are huge billowy ones, light wispy ones that look like angel hair, and those that just kind of blend across the sky - particularly on a dark dreary day. My favorite are the huge billowy ones that just seem to hang there in a field of blue. In moments, they can become transformed before your eyes into a myriad of interesting shapes resembling anything from an elephant, a monster, a rabbit, or a puppy chasing a ball.
The most interesting thing, however, is that all those changes can transpire in a matter of moments and if you fail to watch carefully, you will hardly notice them. Then, when you do, suddenly the sky is no longer the same picture.
Such could be the description of our life during our emotional ups and downs. In a matter of moments a situation can change from something that seems as big as an elephant and as horrible as a monster, into something as insignificant as a puppy chasing a ball.
We relate to clouds in ways that we rarely think about. Sometimes, we may feel like we're on "cloud 9," or at times we might be described having our "head in the clouds." But whatever the circumstances, we seem to have a label for it, that might make a foreign exchange student shake their head in bewilderment. Nonetheless, the cloud phraseology immediately gives to those who are familiar with colloquialism a mental picture of the person's emotional state.
It seems that we of the female gender, whether young or old, seem to be the most vulnerable to cloudy times. Some of the clouds that we encounter are just little wispy shadows and are not very threatening. We tend to ignore those clouds and try to convince ourselves they don't really exist. Others are more billowy and we are quite aware they are hanging overhead, but we continue to pretend not to notice their shape changing - as long as they remain white and no storm threatens.
Unfortunately, however, there are times that the clouds in our life turn grey and seem to totally cover the refreshing warmth of our peaceful sky. At those times, any thought of sunshine begins to fade into the shadows.
It is usually at those dark times when you've lost hope in seeing the sunshine that the really BIG cloud, the tornado cloud appears. Nearly everyone, at one time or another has felt like their heart has been the very eye of a tornado. When, for some reason beyond your control you have been deeply hurt. Your heart was ripped apart and felt shattered - like a tornado that in seconds plunges a building to the ground, that moments before was solidly constructed.
Indeed, clouds are part of life and the enemy of our soul desires that we become totally engulfed and smothered by them.
"The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..." (John 10:10a).
The devil aims his darts at us through the clouds of a broken heart, a wounded spirit, fear, rejection, betrayal, and loneliness. His purpose is to destroy our hopes and dreams - and our reason for being.
But there is hope for our cloudy times! Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly." (John 10:10b).
To have life means that we are not stagnant or dead. We are growing. And the abundant life that Jesus Christ speaks of is a life of growth - growth that at times may bring about growing pains.
Just as real clouds, the recycling of water and gases in the atmosphere, assist in growth processes, so the "clouds" that God allows to come our way are to bring about growth in our life. We will realize that growth, however, only as we yield our life to the will of God - and experience the abundant life that He gives.
Having our head in the clouds may be a good thing. After all, it may remind us that it is really God who is in control of our life! ©copyright 2008 www.menofagape.com
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