“Overcast days never turned me on”, the late singer Prince wrote in his 1985 classic, “Raspberry Beret.” I agree. Who wouldn’t be dispirited by dark skies especially in the daytime hours when we anticipate sunlight?
Like the weather, life has a way of becoming dreary when we least expect it. As humans, we can only see the present. There’s One, however, who exists outside time, and He sees everything. I’m reminded of the saying, “I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. That Person is God.
God knows us intricately. He came to the earth in human form and understands what it’s like to walk in our shoes. When we experience our cloudy days, He is aware we may begin to question His faithfulness and love for us.
He anticipated our potential reaction to life’s uncertainties. He led the writer of the book of Hebrews to talk about it in a letter to a local body of believers under tremendous persecution for their relationship with Christ.
Many began to doubt if Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and were tempted to renounce their faith. Sensing their dwindling resolve, the writer admonished them to pour out their feelings to the Lord in Hebrews 4:14-16, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
In addition to prayer, the author pleaded with them to take action and be resilient from Hebrews 11, highlighting those before them who faced similar challenges and yet persevered. The writer concluded the case to carry on with Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Clouds are essential for growth. A few years ago, my daughter wrote about and illustrated the water cycle as a science project. Heat from the sun turns water into a gas – evaporation. As the vapor moves further into the atmosphere, the colder the temperature gets, and the vapor becomes water droplets – condensation. Condensation forms clouds. As water droplets grow in the clouds and get too heavy to hold, they fall back to the earth as rain – precipitation. The rain seeps into the earth’s soil and causes whatever is planted in it to flourish.
As my spiritual ancestors from the book of Hebrews were reinvigorated upon the remembrance of their cloud of witnesses, I, too, have my celestial coaching section to revitalize me. In the past few years, several members of my family transitioned into eternity. Each showered wisdom upon me, and I develop more into the person God desires. I know they’re watching from above.
Joining this honorable group is my uncle, Anthony J. Stewart, and I dedicate this post to his memory. Thank you, Tío, for encouraging me to stand on my own at a time when I needed to hear it most. I live to honor who you are and what you instilled in me.
Sources:
Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-16 (New Living Translation)
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-40 (Full Chapter) (New Living Translation)
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1 (New International Version)
Article: “What Causes Rain | How Is Rain Formed” published by Doring Kindersley Limited
*Scripture references are taken from bible.com, courtesy of YouVersion, makers of the Bible App available for iOS and Android devices
