SONGS ACROSS THE STORM

“A harp stood in the moveless air,
Where showers of sunshine washed a thousand fragrant blooms;
A traveler bowed with loads of care
Essayed from morning till the dusk of evening glooms
To thrum sweet sounds from the songless strings;
The pilgrim strives in vain with each unanswering chord,
Until the tempest’s thunder sings,
And, moving on the storm, the fingers of the Lord
A wondrous melody awakes;
And though the battling winds their soldier deeds perform,
Their trumpet-sound brave music makes
While God’s assuring voice sings love across the storm.”

I came across this poem (I couldn’t find who it’s by) in my quiet time last week and I was especially drawn to it because of the weather we’ve been having. It’s hot, then cold, then rainy, then sunny… Thunderstorms tend to pop up on the nicest of days, cold winds blow in and change the atmosphere. We can tend to complain about it, but for a gardener or farmer it is welcomed. We need the sunshine and the storm.

This poem is in essence asking – What do you see when you look at rain? What do you hear when you listen to thunder? Do you see the flowers (blooms) yet to come? Do you hear the “melody” of God’s assuring voice over creation? When we are in the middle of a storm (trouble, conflict, sickness, disappointment…) it’s natural to crumble, be disappointed, and feel the “weight and gloom” of the moment. But if we look closely and if we listen carefully we can see and hear some of what God is doing. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT) This doesn’t mean that everything will work out, or that everything that happens is good. It does mean that God is always working for those who love and follow Him, and that He is growing flowers from rain, and singing songs of assurance to us through thunder. It means that God can work things through storms that we assume can only happen in sunshine.

As you go through difficulty and doubt – press into Jesus. Summer tends to be a time of sunshine and rest, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from darkness and storms. Trust that He’s working (He is even if we don’t see it) and listen for His assurance (He’s speaking even if we’re not hearing). He waits and walks with us as He’s working what only He can. This isn’t blind foolishness, or unreasonable hope – it’s called faith. Faith is how followers of Jesus are called to live in the sunshine and the storms.

“Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.” Matthew 17:20 (The Message)

May you have storm weathered faith!