The sermon I listened to last Sunday (6.30 pm, 11 Jan 2009) was about how God provides us with the grace that we need when we need it. In other words it is not in our own strength that we make it through our trials but, in allowing ourselves to lean on Him, God's power becomes perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12: 7-10). He won't necessarily lift us out of our troubles but will be with us through them, often using the troubles themselves to transform us into the people he wants us to be (Hosea 2: 14-15).
Below is a poem that I wrote when I was watching some dark clouds in the sky, which were symbolic at the time, and realised that if we can just bear to sit still (it's a rocky road at times!) and take what comes our way we will become stronger as we are sustained by God's love for us. In fact the bigger the clouds the more God pours out his love and grace to us! By working through it we emerge triumphant the other end. The context in which I wrote it may be different from yours now, but the rain still falls from the clouds, whatever the context. So for those who need encouragement...
From Clouds to Rain
I love it when the pictures you give me
Come alive and true.
For here I am with stretched open arms
Singing my praise to you.
It’s raining outside,
There are clouds above,
But peace they bring
Like your willing dove.
For the darker the clouds,
The heavier the rain
To cleanse me with
Your love again.
I shall rejoice when I see them,
The dark clouds in the sky,
For although trouble comes
Your love shall also pass by,
To visit me
And sustain me within,
To shine a light
On any remaining sin,
To cleanse me of dirt,
To make me as white as snow,
To come again and again,
This truth I now know.
So come on then dark clouds,
Do your greatest will.
For triumph will follow
If I have the courage to sit still.
Copyright EH 2007. All Rights Reserved.
