Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Finding God's Presence ~ Sometimes God Shuts Down the Sky

by Nan Jones   @NanJonesAuthor


Have you ever asked the Lord why? Have you ever questioned His plan, His ability, His goodness?

I certainly have.

Most of us have.

And I believe that's okay as long as we ask with humility because God is big enough to handle our tantrums.

This is what I'm learning...

Nothing comes our way without His knowledge. In His infinite wisdom, God is working all things for our good when we love Him. We can stand firm on that truth. He loves us and desires good for us, but the foundation of receiving that good is understanding who He is, recognizing Him as our source. He wants us to dwell in His secret place so we may abide beneath His shadow. But this knowledge doesn't come while skipping down a path strewn with coral colored rose petals. This knowledge comes through tough times.

These lessons count for eternity.

Our troubles will pass, the season will change, but eternity in the glorious presence of our God lasts forever.

Charles Spurgeon once said, "God is too wise to make a mistake. He is too good to be unkind. So when you cannot trace His hand, you must trust His heart." 

And His heart is towards us, His children.

Steven Furtick said, "Sometimes God shuts down the sky (sends a drought) so He can open the heavens for you." Don't you love that? This is what happened to Elijah in 1 Kings 17.

"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I [Elijah] stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word" (1 Kings 17:1). God made this decision because Ahab, King of Israel had become a Baal worshiper. Baal was the god of rain and our God will never be mocked.

During the drought, the Lord sent Elijah to His place of provision: the Brook of Cherith. Elijah was hidden there in a secret place - a place of isolation - and fed by the hand of God so he would know that God alone was his source. When the appointed time of isolation ended, God told Elijah to go to Zarephath and find the widow that would provide for him.

Do you remember that story? The widow had enough oil and flour to make one piece of bread for herself and her son to share and then she felt they would die. Elijah asked her to make the bread, feed him first and God would multiply her oil and flour until the drought ended. She did as Elijah said and God did what He promised and met her needs. (1 Kings 17:8-16)

This was Elijah's first miracle. Elijah's second miracle came when the widow's son fell ill and died. Elijah did as the Lord directed him and brought the child back to life.

Now consider this: It was during the God-ordained drought that God raised up His prophet Elijah and opened the windows of heaven to pour out His blessings on His servant. Elijah's obedience in heeding the voice of the Lord, yielding to God's instruction to hide at the Brook of Cherith where God and God alone would provide for him, and then once again obeying the Lord's instruction to find the widow in Zarapheth ... all of these things occurred because the Lord shut down the sky and there was no rain.

Are you in a season of drought? Is your spirit weary from the journey? Have you lost sight of your miracle? Sweet friend, I too, know how this feels. But let me encourage you: walk closely with God. Be available. Listen for His voice of instruction and look for His miracle of provision. God, our Father, will always take care of His child and He will use the hard lessons to count for eternity.

Sometimes He shuts down the sky so He can open the heavens.

"I will give you the treasures of darkness 
and hidden riches of secret places, 
that you may know that I, the Lord, 
who call you by your name, 
am the God of Israel." 
~ Isaiah 45:3

A Tweetable to Encourage Others


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