Trusting in the Unseen

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Several years ago, I was preparing for a mission trip with our Youth Group.  We would be returning to Surf City, North Carolina where we had spent previous summers ministering.  During those trips, our group primarily focused on conducting Vacation Bible School for the younger children, spending only a small part of our time ministering to the teenagers within the church.

However, the focus of this trip was going to be different.  Our desire was to minister to the teens, inviting them to join us each morning for a time of teaching and praise and worship.  Based on my interaction with them during previous trips, I knew these teens were dealing with various issues...lower incomes, apathy, hopelessness, lack of direction for their young lives.  As I listened to their various stories on previous trips, I wondered about the stability of their home lives, concerned with what they may be dealing with at home.

On this particular trip, our youth pastor and I were going to be sharing the teaching responsibilities throughout the week during the morning sessions, so I began to diligently prepare for those lessons.  I spent many hours seeking God...asking Him if the message I was preparing was His message.  The content dealt with many issues that I felt these teens were experiencing, so I knew the topics would be difficult, if not painful to hear, but God encouraged me to press on with the teachings.

I finally finished my lessons just a few evenings prior to our departure date.  Though the lessons had been written, I was wanting to spend additional time with the Lord and felt the best way to do that was on a quiet run in the country with Ginger, our Chesapeake Bay Retriever.  As I stepped outside, I immediately noticed the darkened skies.  It wasn't due to the late hour, but due to a storm that was brewing.  As I stepped on the driveway, I looked up at the sky and considered retuning inside to run on the treadmill, but it wouldn't be the same.  I wanted to run outside in the fresh hour, so I decide to continue my journey!

After walking down our long private lane, I turned west as the wind began to pick up!  Determined to not let the dark clouds and ominous sky deter me from my outdoor run, I pressed on!  I needed this release...so not only did I begin to pick up my pace, but I also began an earnest conversation with the Lord.  I was pouring my heart out to Him as the storm drew closer!  The road I was on was paved with tall cornfields on each side of me and the stormy clouds seemed to drop down and almost touch the tops of the ears of corn.  Only a small sliver of gray could be viewed between the black clouds and the corn! 

As I looked up, the dark sky reminded me of the cover of a Frank Peretti book...dark and ominous…and I realized not only was there a storm brewing all around me, but there was a spiritual storm raging around me as well!  

I continued to gaze up at the churning clouds and felt as though God was saying to me...the sun (My Son) is shining on the other side of the darkened clouds.  Child, you need to trust in the unseen and not the seen.  Don’t look at the storm that is raging all around you, but fix your gaze upon my face.  Just as I was pondering this thought, large drops of rain began to fall.  Ginger looked up at me as though to say..."Are we turning back now"?  No, Ginger, we are going to run and just allow God to rain (reign) on us!  I was thrilled as I ran through the downpour, sensing God's presence and peace!  Even though I couldn't see His light at the moment, I knew God was with me and He was going to speak through me as I shared with those teens in North Carolina!  God is faithful!

The rain continued as I ran my four miles and didn't let up until we were close to home.  I didn't care that I was soaked!  This time with the Lord was exactly what I needed!  As I headed east, my heart was just praising God for his faithfulness.  Excited about the time I had just spent with the Lord, I was thrilled to see the stormy clouds drifting off out of the corner of my eye.  As I turned towards the lightened skies...I stood in amazement at God's masterpiece!  The dark clouds were nearly gone and rays of pink, yellow, orange and purple were streaming through huge, white puffy clouds!  It was the most beautiful sunset that I had ever seen.  I just stood in the middle of the road, staring up at God's handiwork…His masterpiece in the sky!  I knew God had created it just for me!  (At least, that is what I told myself).  It was breathtaking!  

I was so thankful that I had persevered and continued on my journey!  God had spoken to me in the storm and encouraged me to press on so that I could see His glory!  He taught me to trust in the unseen…not the seen…to trust in what is eternal.

Dear Heavenly Father…though the storms may rage all around us, your glory is still shining.  Help us Lord not to focus on what we see in the moment, but to trust in the unseen…to place our hope and trust in you.