Even when the Clouds Clear

We’ve all had those days where we just drop everything and want to do nothing but give up. We’ve been pushing on so far that life feels like a brick wall that refuses to budge. We’re tired and scared and upset and every thought that rises is one that pulls us down further; and everything within you cries for you to stop trying, begs you to take the first way out of or around it that you can find; any way.

Well, almost everything. If we listen carefully enough, through the despair that thunders through our ears; through the beating of our anguished hearts, we listen. And we hear it, faint and distant. Our voice of hope.

 Psalm 23 is but one example:

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness 

For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil.

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 

All the days of my life 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord 

Forever.”

Words we are all well acquainted with. And many more that we can recall to encourage ourselves and anyone else who feels as low. But to see them proven, time and again is the beauty of it.

The harder we listen, the louder the words ring; until the ‘whisper through the rain, “I’m with you.”’ echoes around us. The longer we listen, the more our spirits rise. ‘Praising Him in the storm’ becomes not only a joy but the source of our strength to carry on, because our eyes slowly focus on the way He’s made for us and though we thought we’d never find it, He leads us through it.

We’ve all had days where we’ve broken down crying, “I don’t know what to do anymore.” There’s really only one thing to do. Trust that He’s right there, holding on so tightly that no matter how hard things seem, the storm will pass; the clouds will clear. And even when they do, He’s always near.