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One of the strangest, yet most common, characteristics of God is his tendency to gift the dark and painful areas of our lives with his presence and grace. There is no such thing in the Bible as a miracle that is not preceded with a great need or deep hurt, even death. It is good for us to visit such thoughts as we head in the direction of Christmas.

In Psalm 48 the writer paints a picture of God’s power and majesty with a brush that includes, as one would expect, the splendiferous (not in my spell check either) and lofty heavens and heavenly beings. However, in this painting, the Artist also makes creative use of such things as…depths, clouds and stormy winds. It is good for us to be reminded that one who created such things has ways of infiltrating them with a heavenly infusion of grace and glory. I am, personally, especially attracted to this thought, Praise the Lord "stormy winds that do his bidding." (V.7)

I’m old enough now that I can reflect on the times in my past when God used storms in my life to bring about a poignant awareness of his profound might and majesty. Early on, it surely did seem to Colleen and me that our marriage would never amount to much, if by some stroke of luck we managed to stay together. We’ve not only made it, but have, by God’s grace, fallen deeply in love with each other along the way. I could easily give you another hundred storms in my life that have declared praise to the Good Lord. It is good for us to tell and re-tell the stories of how God walks in the midst of storms. Sometimes he is easier found in storms than in the middle of pleasant days. Our kids need to hear this.

So, we must not rush into Christmas. Walk slowly. He is with you. Don’t be afraid of the dark. It is true that the day comes when the people who walked in the darkness saw a great light, but it was a long, long walk to get there. And, don’t forget, that when they first saw the light, it was a star in the sky and a candle in a stable. But, what a star! It is good for us to wait. Waiting builds character. And, character is contagious. And contagious people with character make this world a much better place in which to live.

It’s probably obvious, but it must be said..."He gives peace in the midst of the storm." And, he gives peace in the middle of the darkest night and in the midst of unbearable pain. God is with you. And where God is there is peace!

Believe it.

Wes Smith