CLOUDS OF BLESSING Roy Behling

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me", even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. - Psalm 139: 11-12  (NIV)

As the prayer elder that Sunday, it was a morning of mixed emotions as one family had fears of imminent death, while a young person had joy for being healed and so it went with concerns and praise. In the parking lot afterwards, I noticed fluffy white cumulus clouds in one part of the sky and brooding dark storm clouds on the horizon. Now both sets of clouds contained water droplets that would become blessings for the earth. However, the storm clouds held more droplets and thus greater blessings.

Both the joy and sadness mixed up in daily life may contain blessings. Sometimes the greater blessings can be found in the stormy moments. Living in Christ means all our life events are opportunities to experience His love. The more difficult ones may well bring us richer experiences of His grace. We may not always be aware of Christ's presence, and holding on to His promise to remain in us (see John 15:4)  may not take away our pain or answer our questions, but challenging times can lead us to God's greatest blessings.

Dear Lord, no matter what storm this day brings, give me Your assurance that You remain with me. Help me to receive Your blessings each day, even during life's challenges. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Amen.