It’s cooler today. I open the bedroom blinds. A leaden wall spreads thick across the west, looming with the promise of rain. When I go to the kitchen and turn to the east, the rising sun illumines gossamer pink whisps skirting north across blue skies. Lumbering behind them and slowly overtaking them is a bulbous steely grey cloud. It is expanding as it moves.

I want to find my phone.  I want to capture this heavenly painting, but I know it will dim before I can return. So, I stand in awe of the Artist, wondering how He creates a different landscape every day.

I woke up early—long before daylight. Weariness clings even though I’ve been up for three hours. Mike sits eating his breakfast as I weigh whether to join him or return to bed. Another hour of sleep would be wonderful.

“I’m going to go lay down for a little while,” I say to Mike. “I could use a little more sleep.” He smiles, knowing I’ll likely be gone for an hour or more.

Easing under the comforter, I lay my head down on my pillow with a sigh. “Wake me up in an hour, Lord.” I know He will.

Thirty minutes later, lightning ignites my bedroom walls. In moments thunder explodes, shaking the house. It is close, and it continues. I smile, “Thank You, Lord. You know I love thunderstorms.”

I roll over and drift in and out of sleep as the percussion concert continues.

I love thunderstorms, the wilder and the louder the better. To me, they declare God’s might and power. My insides cheer as if my favorite football team scored the winning touchdown. 

And there are other noisy phenomena that I love. Crashing waves, roaring wind, and deafening rain lift my attention to Him. The voice of God roars over the world, forever settling the question of Who reigns. The crescendo of sound ignites my soul in wonder and praise to the Mighty God, my Master, and my King. 

Elijah heard Him as a still small voice in the middle of the storm, but Job’s friend heard Him roar. 

Job 37:1-7 AMPC

Indeed, [at His thunderings] my heart also trembles and leaps out of its place.

2 Hear, oh, hear the roar of His voice and the sound of rumbling that goes out of His mouth!

3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 After it His voice roars; He thunders with the voice of His majesty, and He restrains not [His lightnings against His adversaries] when His voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.

6 For He says to the snow, Fall on the earth; likewise He speaks to the showers and to the downpour of His mighty rains.

7 God seals up (stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather) the hand of every man [and now under His seal their hands are forced to inactivity], that all men whom He has made may know His doings (His sovereign power and their subjection to it).

How does God’s voice move you?

In this quiet sabbatical, I am learning to listen more, to pause, and consider what I see more carefully. I am still in the Word every day and spending time with Him. But writing has taken a seat of observation as I feast on what He puts before me. To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Abba is refilling my soul for seasons of writing to come. Be blessed, my friends. God is never in a hurry. Take time with Him. It is more valuable than any other thing.