It was a cloudy morning. The glimpse of sun had turned the sky red, warning of the storm on the horizon. The weather outside resembled my inside. Like the clouds, fears were moving in as I focused on my past, present, and predicted failures. My mind was filling with burdens, each one expanding with greater consideration. The atmosphere was unstable. I called upon my Lord, the Light of the world, the one who sits enthroned over the flood. “Father, help me.”
I loaded my daughter in the car to take the 15-minute drive to her school, still preoccupied with the clouds without and within. Then, I remembered a simple song. I queued it up on my radio and told my daughter to get ready to sing. Together, we would lift our eyes unto the Maker of Heaven and earth. By the second pass of the chorus, we both sang out, “Your love is, your love is, YOUR LOVE IS STRONG”. I lowered the windows at the busy intersection in case someone else was having a cloudy day. We sang joyfully unto to Lord as we praised His love with all we had. I watched her in the rear-view mirror, sitting in her car seat, with a face brighter than the sun. She looked like Moses coming down from the mountain.
As we arrived at her school, I noticed the sign board out front.
“The whole earth is filled with the goodness of the Lord” – Psalm 33:5
I read the verse to my daughter and reminded her that no matter where we are and no matter how dark things may be outside or within, we always have something beautiful to look at. I told her, “Claraboo, the whole earth is filled with the goodness of the Lord.” I reminded her that the angels, the ones with more eyes than us, fix all their gaze on Him and can’t help but sing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,’. Who was, and is, and is to come.” Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. May we consider the one who conquered sin and death that we could be set free.
Because He is present, we can seek and find Him. When we find Him, we will taste and see that He is good and His love is strong. Brothers and sisters, again, remember the whole earth is filled with His goodness. Yes, this even includes the dark and scary places that we hide in or try to avoid. Praise God for He shows His lovingkindness in every corner of this sin cursed land and heart. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Right now, whatcha looking at? On cloudy days, may we change our gaze. Pray instead of curse.
In Christ,
Roger Garrison
