My little granddaughter Jo nestled quietly under my arm as the thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed. She accepted my explanation that God was in control of the storm outside. “God will take care of me,” she whispered in her sweet two year old voice.

Elihu reminded Job in chapter 37 that indeed God was in control of earth’s weather. “In this his voice is heard,” he stated. Storms, of the spiritual nature, roll our way for a purpose. At times, our hearts need moving our of their place and into the place that God intends. Thunder, both naturally and spiritually, is a reminder that God’s voice roars out his resounding truth. He is excellent and speaks to us during our storms so that our hearts might move in his direction.

Sometimes he speaks in a small still voice as quiet as the fallen snow. He whispers peace upon our hearts unheard by others. Sometimes the rain softly beats upon our hearts to keep us calm and assured. Yet still, there are times of heavy rain that leave us feeling as if we will drown underneath the downpour. God’s voice is to be heard in every drop.

Drop by drop rain often turns into a heavy downpour. We are trenched and discouraged and our works are sealed like a dam about to burst forth. We have no outlet for out talents to flow. We wrestle with methods to use our gifts and abilities. Before the dam waters can flow to supply others with refreshing words, we must realize the words were never our own; they are borrowed from the author of the universe. Any thought worth writing or speaking is a God given gift for his glory. It is his voice that speaks lasting truth. It is his story that needs to be told. Our voice is only a reflection of his eternal speech.

The eternal God of the universe has a divine order for his creation as can be observed. During storms beasts go into their dens and remain until the storm passes. During the storm we must seek spiritual shelter in Jesus just as we seek physical shelter in our homes. Stormy weather brings dark days that cause our desperate hearts to seek our savior. He sends storms to cleanse us of sin so that we might hear the voice of our Savior. God, who is holy, speaks to unholy people to correct our disobedient hearts, Listen, dear one, he is speaking loud and clear. Be attentive.

Stand still and consider his wondrous works. He is perfect in knowledge and will give us what we need to bring balance to our lives. All light and no darkness might make our wayward hearts grow dull of hearing his voice. He will, in his timing, disperse the dark clouds and cause his clouds to shine.

At the end of a cloudless summer day God paints the sunset. His brushstrokes of ochre extend across the horizon. May this remind us that our creator watches with his fiery all seeing eyes. He knows our every thought and sees our every action. God is holy yet he loves humanity enough to reveal himself to us. He leaves us in awe of his mighty master plan.

Let us honor God and magnify his holy name. He is truly majestic. God is almighty; we will never find him out. He is excellent in power and judgment. He is just in all his ways. The intent of affliction is not to harm us but rather to bring us to the realization that he is all powerful and all knowing. Like Job, God has a place of honor for us at the end of the storm if we humble ourselves to his will.

If God elevates us with a platform he has but one purpose, to bring honor and glory to him. He does not respect those who are filled with pride and we cannot live by our own wisdom. Correction is a part of God’s all powerful plan in the heart of man. When the lightning flashes and the thunder roars, he will take care of us.