The Ever-Shining Light

Before travelling back from the Gold Coast yesterday, I noticed Sydney had been experiencing a lot of rain with more forecast to fall.  Our flight was delayed due to high winds and I wondered how the stormy weather along the east of Australia would increase turbulence.  The weather was fine in the Gold Coast--and even better above the clouds.

From my vantage point in a window seat the aircraft was bathed in sunlight as we flew above a light blanket of clouds.  The images of clouds expected to drop heavy rainfalls according to the radar were not dark or foreboding at all from above.  Many times I have looked up to see dark clouds gathering in the sky and wondered if I brought an umbrella along.  But from the pressurised cabin high above such thoughts never entered my mind because flying above the storm provided a fresh perspective impossible for me to obtain by my own power alone.

This is a great thing for us to remember with our limited perspectives during dark and troubled seasons on earth:  above the clouds the sun still shines.  There is light shining when all seems dark and dreary, and there is clear calmness above the rising flood.  Even when we cannot see the sun because it is obscured by clouds or the earth itself, we know it will rise and set every day according to God's flawless design.  Knowing Jesus is the Light of the World who spoke the sun into existence, we can look to Him beyond the troubles we can see and enter into the rest, peace, joy and comfort only He provides.

The time came for us to descend through the clouds and rain and land on the tarmac, wet from all the rain.  From above it did not look like it could be raining, even as from below I could not see the sun shining.  Both were a reality, though I could not see them at the same time.  Praise God that even when bad things happen God is good, and all that God allows for His sovereign purposes He can also redeem.  We may not be able to understand or comprehend what that is or how it could be possible, but in knowing the almighty God we know everything is possible for Him.  When we look to our LORD and Saviour Jesus we need not be troubled or afraid because He was, is and will ever be.  He lives, and we live through Him.