Last night several thunderstorms came through the Atlanta area.  We even had a couple of Tornado warnings in the area because the storms so bad.  One of the warnings came across the radio and Ty said to me, “Dad, there’s a tomato warming.”

After all the storms had passed I walked out to the end of my driveway to bring the trash dumpster back to the house.  The ground was saturated.  Huge puddles of water still remained from the torrential downfall of rain that had happened hours before.  While walking back to the house I couldn’t help but to notice the sky full of stars.  There were only a couple of clouds scattered here and there but for the most part it was STARS. 

Just by looking at the sky, you would have never thought earlier in the night we had thunderstorms and tomato warmings.  Everything was quiet, clear and pleasant.  Looking at the ground you were quickly brought back to reality to realize that rain did come.  It was a strong contrast between two worlds.  One being the still sky and the other the after effects of a storm.

I find many parallels from the storm and sky to current life on earth.  We all find our selves in the storms of life.  Battered, beaten, worn and completely drenched from the rain.  We find ourselves cold, wet, and uncomfortable in our own skin.  This translates in real life to trouble in relationships, jobs, health or other storms that life brings.  But I think the tragedy of it all is that even after the storm has passed, we remained focused on the puddles, the soggy ground, the branches that have fallen and other negative effects of the storm.  Rather than looking down, we should look up to the sky.  There we see, the storm have passed, the clouds have broken and peace has been restored.  Focusing upward also helps us remember that the sun is always faithful to rise the next morning.  

We cannot prevent life’s storms.  What we can do is know that storms are temporary.  They pass.  Then the clouds break and gives way to sunlight.  Not only that, we can control where we focus.   I think this is very nicely wrapped up with some lyrics from the song Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundantly and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.