What if there is more to the snow? More than the cooped up crazies with kids or without, or the fear of lost work time, or the endless cooking and cleaning (or avoidance of it). Since God doesn’t waste anything, I wonder, will we tap into the holy lesson of the snow fest?
I was struck by this scripture out of Job the other night. (I know, Job? Really?)
5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.
8 The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
Four revelations have come during this frozen state. (And I am not going to even mention the “Frozen” overload. Please, just make it stop.)
1) God is the author of the weather.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
So that everyone he has made may know his work
Sounds obvious. But in our practical atheism of science and weather forecasts, we do well to remember God. We do well to instruct our children. And co-workers. God is still powerful and He is still good, even in the bad weather. I hear in my spirit a familiar hymn:
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
Could you and I bless the Lord in the snow aftermath? This is an invitation to remember our utter smallness and utter dependence on Him. Could we stand back and say, “Wow God. You are amazing.” Kudos to well-meaning forecasters. But praise to the One who breathes and it is done.
2) Gratefulness changes the climate.
I knew that our power would be soon restored. I had friends nearby to go to. I even called a hotel and considered enjoying their electricity, pool, and complimentary breakfast. You see, I had lots of options. And one option is always thanksgiving. In days, or hours, of lost of power or water, we know our temporary affliction is an everyday reality for thousands (millions?) in our world. Every day. No options.
I heard about one teacher who was worried about her students. Not because of the studies, but the food. Many of her students only ate at school and they had been out since Feb 13. Talk about a chilling perspective. I have been cooking like a fiend and there are kids who may not be eating at all?
These reality checks are intended to break the little entitlement chips off our shoulders.
3) Snow is supposed to stop us.
So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.
We do not Sabbath well. You know that cease from all work idea? Yeah, we do not Sabbath well. In short, it is a trust issue. It is a concept all through the Bible where God says, “Stop and I will fill in the blanks.” Sabbath is a two-fold exercise of rest and dependence. We are so tech savvy now that the snow has little effect on us. But are we missing the greater objective? To have a holy pause. To breathe. To let our lives be interrupted because they have been interrupted and it’s okay.
We can trust that God knows intimately the missed appointments and work hours. We can trust that some how, some way He will fill in the gaps of coming days if we will Sabbath with him today. Rest in Him.
Listen, my husband is in commission sales. My friend owns a business where no employees are showing up. My other friend is an hourly wage earner in a landscaping business. Heck, even the churches are cancelling services which means no collections.
Do we trust God, or not? In the scope of our life, how will we best remember these moments? Fretting and fear? Or enjoyment and trust?
I get the tension, believe me. I am just saying the scripture says, there is a greater reality than the snow.
4) “Stop and consider God’s wonders.”
This reminded me of lyrics from a beautiful Bethel song.
“May we never lose the wonder.
Wide-eyed and mystified.
May we be just like a child.
Staring at the beauty of our King.”
Here is what I am walking away with. Our attitudes and actions preach more than most sermons do. So today, focus on the wonder of your God. Worship through the weather.