Power and Hope

It decided to rain today.

It has been a while since I have seen a storm. It didn't rain much at all in Israel, and Grand Rapids is good for another type of precipitation which will go unnamed for the time being. I really like watching storms roll in and if I were given the choice I'd want to have some sky lights at my place of residence so I could look up into the storm clouds without the hassle of getting wet. There is something about watching a storm cloud roll over the horizon and blot out the sun that is hypnotic. There is a sense of power within the storm that I can nearly grasp but cannot articulate effectively.

This week kicked my butt some days and picked me up at other times. It's been a while since I have had this immediate sort of up and down feeling. One day I am ready to throw all my notes into a furnace and the next I cannot stop studying. People say our emotions can be tied to the weather and this may be true. I wonder what a cold rainy day in March means for me? I mean it is not snowing which is a change and it is March which means Spring may actually come on time this year? Then again the clouds lack the thundering presence of storm clouds and instead the clouds only block the sun which is what I really would like to see. Ambivalent much?

I set a goal this week that I met and in part that goal led me to this passage in the Psalms;

^{Psalms 130}

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
² Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

³ If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel

from all their sins. (Courtesy of BibleGateway.com)

I really have enjoyed reading and thinking about this passage. The progression of the Psalmist is parallel to what I would attempt to pray, but could not do so in such an articulate and precise manner. Whether we are at the top of our game or against the ropes God hears our prayer. He himself has, does, and will redeem our sins. More powerful than the storm clouds or the change of season is our God. For He is whom we trust.