Storms

We were driving home very late last night. DH, Gidget and I had gone out to do a little shopping and didn't know there was a storm coming. When we came out of the store we found ourselves in a really messy situation... or a winter wonderland. Depends on your perspective.

As my hubby was slowly driving home I nervously thought about how bad the roads were getting. It was snowing and sleeting... quite a mess in which to be driving.

My daughter, however, was not nervous at all. She had complete faith in her father's driving ability (something I often doubt). She said, "WOW! Look at the snow! We're driving right into it, but it looks like it is splitting in the middle just as it's about to hit us! It's going around us! How cool is this?!!" She wasn't worried a bit. She was simply along for the ride and was enjoying it.

As I thought about it today, now that we're home safe and warm and dry, I began to think about that childlike faith referred to in the Bible.

"And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (Mark 10:13-15)

I also thought about how my little girl had complete faith in her father in the midst of the storm. She not only had complete faith, but she actually just sat back and enjoyed what she was seeing through her innocent eyes. I don't know about you, but I've been through some storms in my life and I must regretfully admit that I did not have complete faith in my father -- my Heavenly Father. The One Who created me and loves me more than I can ever comprehend... and yet I doubt Him. I wonder how many beautiful things I've missed seeing while going through a storm because I've had my eyes focused on the wrong things instead of the AWESOMENESS of God! How pathetic am I?!!

Then I thought about how it really did look like the snow/sleet was going to smash right into our windshield, but instead swirled around us. How many life storms have I been in where God drove me right through the middle and yet kept me from being directly hit square in the head? I don't know... and won't know until I get to Heaven. I'm sure that He has protected me more times than I can count and I never even think to thank Him for it. Why shouldn't I thank Him for the things I don't see Him do yet know He's doing? I should take time to do that. I don't even take the time to thank Him enough for what I do see!

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

I want to keep my spiritual eyes open and see what God is doing. I want to keep my heart open to receive what it is He is trying to teach me. I want to be more like my little girl and have complete faith in my Father's driving ability in the storms of life.

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him." (Isaiah 64:4)

One last contemplation: Have you ever thought about the beauty that often follows storms?

• Breathtaking rainbows that remind us that God keeps His promises...
• Majestic snow blanketing the once barren ground...
• Trees decorated with dangling icicles...

Sure, storms often bring devastating damage, but I'd like, for this moment, to concentrate on the beauty that oftentimes gets overlooked... or seen but too soon forgotten.