At Christ's worst moment, God was doing his best work. This truth has helped me struggle past the temptation to interpret God's "working everything out for good" as cliche. While Jesus was enduring agony and torment on the cross, God was in the process of solving humanity's most desperate crisis- sin and separation from Him. The belief that God is up to something good, even in the middle of our worst moments and most difficult circumstances, nurtures abandon and surrender. I often remind myself that the journey of spiritual formation has more to do with continuing to function despite difficulty than necessarily overcoming it.
"In a fallen world, we have every reason to expect trouble of some sort every day, whether a crashed computer, a toothache, or a much more severe calamity. And, of course, it is true that our sovereign God could make all things in this world as they should be, right now. But that day is not yet. In His sovereign will, He allows bad things to happen - until then. And we're to trust that nothing will happen now that God cannot work together for the good He longs for us to enjoy." - Larry Crabb
I want to share this short devotion below by Oswald Chambers that inspired the song "Sometimes He Comes in the Clouds," included on the My Utmost for His Highest album, a collection inspired entirely by Chamber's writings. I have included a link to the song and its lyrics as well. Both the devotion and song speak to the truth that God is still conforming us in the image of His Son, even during our most difficult struggles.
Behold, He is Coming with Clouds…
Oswald Chambers
In the Bible, clouds are always associated with God. Clouds are the sorrows, sufferings, or providential circumstances, within or without our personal lives, which actually seem to contradict the sovereignty of God. Yet it is through these very clouds that the Spirit of God is teaching us how to walk by faith. If there were never any clouds in our lives, we would have no faith. “The clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). They are a sign that God is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow, bereavement, and suffering are actually the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near us without clouds— He does not come in clear-shining brightness.
It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials. Through every cloud He brings our way, He wants us to unlearn something. His purpose in using the cloud is to simplify our beliefs until our relationship with Him is exactly like that of a child— a relationship simply between God and our own souls, and where other people are but shadows. Until other people become shadows to us, clouds and darkness will be ours every once in a while. Is our relationship with God becoming more simple than it has ever been?
There is a connection between the strange providential circumstances allowed by God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Until we can come face to face with the deepest, darkest fact of life without damaging our view of God’s character, we do not yet know Him. “…they were fearful as they entered the cloud” (Luke 9:34). Is there anyone except Jesus in your cloud? If so, it will only get darker until you get to the place where there is “no one anymore, but only Jesus …” (Mark 9:8; also see verses 2–7).
If you have a moment to reflect today, how is God currently revealing Himself to you in the clouds? What is your most faithful response to this revelation?
https://open.spotify.com/track/6zIhKyKuuCkTKLgNKduSvv?si=1Dq41mPCQbymQjt7uXX9fw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeS2FqEF3TQ&list=OLAK5uy_kjJ-89DGQLC1HYyRBrOn_-2HOho_vAsIE&index=5
"Sometimes He Comes In The Clouds"
These are the places I was so sure I'd find Him.
I've looked in the pages, and I've looked down on my knees.
I've lifted my eyes in expectation
to see the sun still refusing to shine.
But, sometimes He comes in the clouds.
Sometimes His face cannot be found.
Sometimes the sky is dark and gray,
but some things can only be known,
and sometimes our faith can only grow
when we can't see,
so sometimes He comes in the clouds.
Sometimes I see me, a sailor out on the ocean.
So brave and so sure as long as the skies are clear.
But, when the clouds start to gather
I watch my faith turn to fear.
But, sometimes He comes in the clouds.
Sometimes His face cannot be found.
Sometimes the sky is dark and gray,
but some things can only be known,
and sometimes our faith can only grow
when we can't see,
so sometimes He comes in the rain,
and we question the pain
and wonder why God can seem so far away,
but time will show us
He was right there with us.
And, sometimes He comes in the clouds.
Sometimes His face cannot be found.
Sometimes the sky is dark and gray,
but some things can only be known,
and sometimes our faith can only grow
when we can't see,
so sometimes He comes in the clouds.
