Cloud Cover

I was on my way to Florida to visit grandsons and so we had to drive to Amarillo so I could catch a flight. That morning, it was cloudy and misty outside, but this time, I had a seat by the window. I settled in, excited and anxious to be with family. The flight attendant quickly explained the proper use of the seatbelt to and encouraged us to "sit back and relax". We taxied down the runway, took off and began the ear popping climb. There was some turbulence as we plowed through the clouds into welcoming sunshine. I looked out my window into the bright sky. It was so beautiful and I thanked God for this light and the special care He takes to make our world so glorious. The time passed quickly as I marvelled at God's world through that little tiny window. The sunshine made me feel warm and calm. We continued our flight, above the clouds, until the pilot's voice came on advising we were approaching our destination and reminding us to return to our seats and make sure we were securely belted into our seats. Again we experienced the bouncing and jarring turbulence as we made our way through the clouds, now obscuring our view and blocking the sun. This cloudy turbulence was our companion until we landed and began our approach to the terminal. Again I stepped out into the drizzle and overcast sky.
Sometimes, my christian walk is just like that flight. Sometimes, it is drizzly and cloudy in my world. I may be struggling with a physical illness or perhaps I've had a loss in my life and I am grieving. Maybe I have been struggling with satan, trying to overcome temptations and praying for rescue. Perhaps I am just plain old weary, weary with disagreements, weary with the tasks that never seem to end, weary with the seemingly thankless job of caregiving, weary with discussions that go on forever and never produce any truth, weary of the bouncing and jarring turbulence. Whatever the cause, sometimes I seem to be living under a cloud. Not a dark, ominous rain cloud, just the light gray clouds that just kind of hang there. Do you know what I mean? Haven't we all been there?
I wonder if we could just remember that this cloud cover is thin and that above it, my God is shining His light, and up there, there is no turbulence and the sky is peaceful and calm. If we could remember that, if perhaps we could force ourselves to look up, to focus on God and His blessings, to praise Him for the things He gives us, to allow His Word to remind us that life on earth is but a breath and then there is heaven, wouldn't that brighten our day? I wonder if that change in focus, if that little adjustment might just help us see a little clearing in the clouds, might help us notice the bright rays of light forcing their way through the clouds, the little patches of sunshine sprinkled here and there in the sky. I wonder if where once there was cloud cover, there might now be longing for the sunshine and hope. I wonder . . . what would happen if we all looked up?

Neva