Waiting in the Clouds

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Exodus 24:15-18 (NIV)

There are times when I have felt like Moses waiting in the clouds. Clouds can be beautiful when they are the backdrop for the glory of a sunset. I have often watched in awesome wonder at my Creator’s ability to never duplicate His masterpieces of burning oranges, pinks, and shades of blue in the western sky as dusk sets in. I look longingly at the beautiful picture He has made, changing every minute, until darkness swallows it up.

Clouds take on an entirely different personality when they obscure my pathway. Those are the clouds I dread. One minute my path seems to be entirely level before me, with no unwanted twists or turns or obstacles in the road. The next minute that same path can become murky and frightening as the fog of the clouds descends upon me.

When there is no way out but through those clouds, I can have a very difficult time staying on course. Because the path ahead cannot be traveled by sight, I must now remember Who called me to walk it. There are times when the clouds stay for far longer than I can possibly understand. The reasons for walking this path, once clear to me when the warm sun shone down on my head, can be lost to me as I wait for the clouds to lift again.

The temptation to doubt His sovereignty during the agony of the wait is very real. I have no way to know if I am in the beginning of the wait, the middle of the wait, or am on the brink of the wait being over. It is in those times of waiting in the clouds that I have to cling to the knowledge that the One who has called me into the clouds will be faithful to call me out when His purpose is accomplished. Call to this faint heart of mine, Jesus, and renew my courage as I wait for however long I must until Your voice brings me through these clouds You have ordained for me.