Thunderstorms

I have always liked thunderstorms...I can't even remember a time when I was little and I was scared of the thunder and lightning...they have just always been intriguing. There is something humbling in watching and listening to them...they have always caused me to be still and experience all of the different elements.

Someone once told me that they view thunder as the demonstration of God's power and might...this is the auditory reminder of God's omnipresence and sovereignty. It reminds me of the way that Jesus calmed the storm with just a few words. He is almighty...and He is more than capable of calming all storms, literal and figurative.

When I think of lightning, it seems to represent Christ's role as the Light of the World. Especially if the storm is occurring at night, the lightning illuminates the sky so it looks almost like the daytime. "I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night--but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you." --Psalm 139:11-12 So lightning reminds me that the Lord is the Lord of all.

Then there is the rain...the lovely pouring rain. Rain is so soothing...cleansing...calming...comforting. There are many symbols associated with rain, but what sticks out to me is the way that it reminds me of the glory of the Lord and His presence raining down on us. If someone could bottle the smell of rain, they would be a millionaire. As ironic as it sounds (considering the way that rain is ever-changing) rain seems to give stability to life. And when it is pouring down rain, no one wants to go anywhere...so I like it when we have no control over something, we just have to stay where we are with the people we are with...experiencing God's presence.

So, there you go. Thank you, Lord, for thunderstorms. :)