Pastor’s Podium

“The clouds never expect it When it rains But the sea changes colors But the sea Does not change.” (Stevie Nicks)

Has a song ever unexpectedly impacted your life? A few years back while driving though western Kansas, I lost all radio channels, leaving me with static and breaking up music that left me hearing every other word or two. It just happened to be Stevie Nicks’ Edge of Seventeen was playing on my car radio. Suddenly with clarity and strength, the kind that gets your attention, the above lyrics interrupted as if it was a message just for me.

As I pondered the lyrics, I broke out in godly praise. How prophetic are the lyrics? As we go through life, we do not expect rain or the storms that come our way in life. We are young and the world is our oyster or we are old and oyster gave us indigestion, leaving us to take the world one day at a time. Many of us discover the rains of the storm earlier than others. Some of life’s storms make us feel as if the waters are rising steadily in our situation. Unfortunately, the water is muddy and murky.

When we think about the ocean or sea, the amount of water does not change after a storm. The oceans are constant, or nearly so. So why does the water change color? Scientist are quick to say that “we are able to observe the blue light produced by the water’s absorption, because light is scattered by suspended matter and so returns to the surface. Such scattering can also shift the spectrum of the emerging photons toward the green, a color often seen in water laden with suspended particles.” (Webexbibits).

Humm. In other words, God’s art is great. His majesty reigns even over the color of water and He told the ocean it can only come this far.

God says,“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Is. 43:2). However, when you are passing through the waters can you see the light of God, the God that reveals His mystical, mysterious, and masterful work though the change of color in your situation.

What appeared dark, ugly, and disturbing God will bring the light to. He will bring the blue, green, and teal colors of joy back to you all through the light that illuminates your path. When the storm ends the beautiful beams of light will be shining through your situation, redefining your perception. God reminds us in His Word that He will be with us in the midst of it all. Even though our storms change; He will never change.

So remember — “The clouds never expect it When it rains But the sea changes colors But the sea Does not change.” (Stevie Nicks).

Be comforted in the knowledge that God is in every situation you encounter, and, He will be there for you.