Clouds

Psalm 36:5 AMPC

Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, extend to the skies, and Your faithfulness to the clouds.

Today the skies are covered with a soft blanket of grey clouds. These are times when clouds are a blessing, giving respite from the relentless summer sun.

We experience all sorts of spiritual clouds in our lifetime. Each one teaches us of the faithfulness of our Lord.

When the dark, stormy clouds come, we learn to know that God is still there, still the same loving heavenly Father watching over us.

This love hasn't ceased simply because some trial has masked its warmth - Oh no, we can be certain that His Presence is with us always and forever.

Hebrews 10:23 AMPC

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.

Joni Mitchell's song "Both sides now" describes the meaninglessness of clouds without faith:

"I've looked at clouds from both sides, now

From up and down, and still somehow

It's cloud illusions, I recall

I really don't know clouds at all"

It's the echo of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 1:2 AMPC

Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities, says the Preacher. Vapor of vapors and futility of futilities! All is vanity (emptiness, falsity, and vainglory).

Clouds are seen as meaningless, but we have a different story of cloudy trials:

James 1:2-4 AMPC

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. [3] Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. [4] But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

Clouds can be a precious blessing in disguise! May Jesus teach us in and through them.