Do You See Jesus In Your Clouds?

Christian writer Oswald Chambers reminds us that in the Bible, clouds are always associated with God (My Utmost for His Highest, 1935, July 29). The children of Israel saw God as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22 NKJV). God allowed His presence to fill the tabernacle in the form of a cloud so great that Moses could not enter the tabernacle (Exodus 40:35-37 NKJV).

Also in the Old Testament, we are told that thick clouds cover God ( Job 22:14 NKJV), and Daniel saw Christ coming on the clouds of heaven (Daniel 7:13 NKJV). In the New Testament, Jesus told us that He would be seen coming in the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64 NKJV).

Clouds, however, are not a phenomenon we typically associate with blessings or good tidings. In our minds, clouds are often associated with circumstances that rush in, disturb our sunshine, and obscure our vision. Loss, struggles, ill-timed events, pain, fear, disappointments; these are the clouds we find ourselves in throughout this life. Sometimes they are small, not so intimidating, and more annoying than anything.

Can you believe Jesus would be in such a thing?

And then there are clouds that seem to take the very breath from your lungs because the pain they bring hurts so badly. You stand in their midst, unable to see your hand outstretched before your face. Remarkably, God would have us know that He is but a mere millimeter away from us, extending His hand to lead us to His Son.

In the life of every believer, there are times when we question our confidence in God’s sovereignty. Clouds force us to come to terms with what we believe about our Creator, our God. Is He really all good? If so, how can His sovereign plan contain within it such pain and suffering for those He says He loves? 

I don’t believe a believer in Christ was ever intended to understand His plan completely, therefore making faith something the Lord places so much value on, irrelevant. Perhaps the revelation comes from my own understanding of the condition of my heart and the lengths the Lord must go to in order to soften, mold, and shape this mass of flesh into something that, in the most remote way, reflects His Son. 

Ephesians 1:11-12 states, “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (NKJV).

What does it mean to “be”? The word “be”, defined in Webster’s dictionary, means to exist, live, happen, occur, remain, or continue. So “to be” to the praise of His glory, is to exist, stay, and continue in His love, His grace, His forgiveness, and His strength. Walking blindly, obediently, and willingly through every cloud that happens between where I am now and eternity.

It is interesting that in I Corinthians 16:13, God asks us to stand, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (NKJV). In Ephesians 6:13, Paul encourages us, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (NKJV). God simply asks us to stand, to be; to be His wherever He leads. 

Our Christian brothers and sisters who are persecuted in various areas of this world must learn this lesson to stand quickly. Without learning it, embracing it, and trusting God within it, it would be impossible to give up what the rest of us hold so dear — comforts, loved ones, and even life.

Recently, I have found myself walking from one cloud to another during a season of change and uncertainty. Some are small, others are bigger, and a few are a little darker. Understanding that His sovereignty orchestrated each one helps to focus my heart on the lessons in them and reminds me that the strength to overcome them has already been provided.

Don't fear the clouds on your horizon. Learn to trust more fully in Him who controls the stars and oceans, and marks the places where the sparrows fall.

It is my prayer that, by the examples of Paul and our brothers and sisters today, we will do just that.

Rachael Molle‘ began following the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ over twenty years ago, one month before she married the love of her life. She loves the Scriptures and writes about the importance of God‘s truth and love in the lives of His people. She lives with her family in a small town in Maryland.