When I left my church in Canada (before coming here to Bolivia) it was a bit of an abrupt and difficult parting of the ways. I didn’t see it coming and it kind of left me reeling. When I think about my years in ministry, there are probably three different times that were my “I’m not sure I still want to do this.” moments. That was one of them. I’m just on the tail end of another.
One night back then, when I was smack in the middle of the worst of my frustrations and hurt, I was driving down to Caronport to visit some friends. Being me, I didn’t get onto the road until nearly midnight, and so at around 1 AM I was somewhere near Bladworth.
For those of you who don’t know Saskatchewan, let me just say that the Saskatoon to Moose Jaw highway is one of the most desolate, boring drives in our province, probably second only to the Swift Current to Regina run. And Bladworth is dead centre in the middle of the worst of that drive to Moose Jaw.
As the highway stretched out in front of me all the way to the horizon, I noticed something. On the right side of the highway the sky was clear and full of stars. The moon was full and so bright that it almost seemed like daylight. I could see every detail of the fields and farms I was passing by.
To the left the entire sky was filled with a huge storm. The clouds were thick and black and every few seconds they lit up with sheets of lightening. It was one of those intense thunderstorms that occasionally sweep across the prairies.
What I noticed was that the highway exactly and neatly split the two scenes. To the left, this incredible storm and then to the right this clear and perfect night sky.
I remember thinking “God, I feel like I’m in the middle of that storm.” The darkness and turmoil described my life at that moment, the anger and pain I was feeling. And I asked God why couldn’t I have the peace and brightness of that clear, moonlit sky to my right. It was so distinctly and dramatically different. Naturally it seemed to me that’s where God was, in the peace of that moonlit night.
I drove a few miles further, mulling this over in my mind, when I glanced over at the storm again. What I saw so surprised me that I actually pulled the car over.
The moonlight was so bright on the right, that it had formed a rainbow in the middle of the storm clouds. The rainbow stretched in a perfect arch from horizon to horizon.
Of course, being the middle of the night, there were no colours. I could see, however, where each ark of colour would normally have been except now they were all various shades of white and grey. They were distinct against the black of the storm clouds. It was one of the most astounding things I’ve ever seen.
The storm continued to rumble and flash but in the middle of it was this thing of beauty and peace.
In the Bible God used a rainbow as the sign of His covenant with Noah after the flood. It meant different things, but I think most importantly it was meant to be a physical reminder to Noah and his family of God’s presence and of His promises to them.
I felt like I was in the middle of that storm. More accurately I felt like my life was that storm. When I asked, God didn’t make the storm just go away. He could have I’m sure. But He knew that wouldn’t be the last storm I’d find myself in. Instead He chose to remind me in a creative and dramatic way that I wasn’t alone in the midst of that storm. His presence was there with me. His promise to never leave me or forsake me hadn’t been broken.
Eventually the storm dissipated and faded away and I continued on my journey. I can’t tell you that my personal storm ended in that moment. But I can tell you that I knew I wasn’t facing it alone.
I’ve gone through my share of storms since then (it’s kind of a requisite in ministry) and God has often reminded me of that experience…that rainbow in the middle of the night. It gives me great assurance that no storm is greater than God’s ability to see us through it.
The storm here is starting to dissipate as well. It’s not over yet and there are still some difficult moments to come I’m sure. It’s amazing how those summer thunderstorms can flair up again just when you think they’re over.
But God is bringing us through it all, and for that I'm thankful. Thanks also to all of you for your prayers. They make a difference and it’s good to know that we don’t stand alone.
One night back then, when I was smack in the middle of the worst of my frustrations and hurt, I was driving down to Caronport to visit some friends. Being me, I didn’t get onto the road until nearly midnight, and so at around 1 AM I was somewhere near Bladworth.
For those of you who don’t know Saskatchewan, let me just say that the Saskatoon to Moose Jaw highway is one of the most desolate, boring drives in our province, probably second only to the Swift Current to Regina run. And Bladworth is dead centre in the middle of the worst of that drive to Moose Jaw.
As the highway stretched out in front of me all the way to the horizon, I noticed something. On the right side of the highway the sky was clear and full of stars. The moon was full and so bright that it almost seemed like daylight. I could see every detail of the fields and farms I was passing by.
To the left the entire sky was filled with a huge storm. The clouds were thick and black and every few seconds they lit up with sheets of lightening. It was one of those intense thunderstorms that occasionally sweep across the prairies.
What I noticed was that the highway exactly and neatly split the two scenes. To the left, this incredible storm and then to the right this clear and perfect night sky.
I remember thinking “God, I feel like I’m in the middle of that storm.” The darkness and turmoil described my life at that moment, the anger and pain I was feeling. And I asked God why couldn’t I have the peace and brightness of that clear, moonlit sky to my right. It was so distinctly and dramatically different. Naturally it seemed to me that’s where God was, in the peace of that moonlit night.
I drove a few miles further, mulling this over in my mind, when I glanced over at the storm again. What I saw so surprised me that I actually pulled the car over.
The moonlight was so bright on the right, that it had formed a rainbow in the middle of the storm clouds. The rainbow stretched in a perfect arch from horizon to horizon.
Of course, being the middle of the night, there were no colours. I could see, however, where each ark of colour would normally have been except now they were all various shades of white and grey. They were distinct against the black of the storm clouds. It was one of the most astounding things I’ve ever seen.
The storm continued to rumble and flash but in the middle of it was this thing of beauty and peace.
In the Bible God used a rainbow as the sign of His covenant with Noah after the flood. It meant different things, but I think most importantly it was meant to be a physical reminder to Noah and his family of God’s presence and of His promises to them.
I felt like I was in the middle of that storm. More accurately I felt like my life was that storm. When I asked, God didn’t make the storm just go away. He could have I’m sure. But He knew that wouldn’t be the last storm I’d find myself in. Instead He chose to remind me in a creative and dramatic way that I wasn’t alone in the midst of that storm. His presence was there with me. His promise to never leave me or forsake me hadn’t been broken.
Eventually the storm dissipated and faded away and I continued on my journey. I can’t tell you that my personal storm ended in that moment. But I can tell you that I knew I wasn’t facing it alone.
I’ve gone through my share of storms since then (it’s kind of a requisite in ministry) and God has often reminded me of that experience…that rainbow in the middle of the night. It gives me great assurance that no storm is greater than God’s ability to see us through it.
The storm here is starting to dissipate as well. It’s not over yet and there are still some difficult moments to come I’m sure. It’s amazing how those summer thunderstorms can flair up again just when you think they’re over.
But God is bringing us through it all, and for that I'm thankful. Thanks also to all of you for your prayers. They make a difference and it’s good to know that we don’t stand alone.
