Turbulence

April 5th, 2024
by Joy Cartwright

Turbulence

I like to have a window seat when I fly somewhere. It’s fun to watch the houses, cars and roads appear smaller and smaller as the plane ascends. One dreary day, though, there wasn’t much to see. The clouds were thick, dark and heavy, and soon we were right in their midst. I could barely see the wing tips as the plane bounced in the turbulence. Suddenly, the plane broke through the clouds into a different world. Above the clouds, it was bright and calm. From the top, the clouds were white, puffy, and towering in a variety of shapes, like a Dr. Seuss landscape without the colors. I had never seen clouds like this before.

After a bit of research, I was reminded that in the Bible, God’s presence is often depicted as a cloud.

When the Israelite's fled Egypt...

Exodus 13:21

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.”

When Pharaoh and the Egyptian army pursued them, the cloud moved...

Exodus 14:19-20

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.”

This sounds much like my experience with the clouds that were dark and menacing below, but bright and cheery above! Clouds show the presence of God in the New Testament as well.

When Jesus was up on a mountain with a few of his disciples...

Mark 9:7

“A cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Jesus tells us what will happen in the end times...

Luke 21:27

“At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

Sometimes when I’m in a bad situation, it feels like I’m in the middle of a dark menacing cloud. I feel buffeted around by turbulence I can’t control, and I can’t see a way out. I need to remember that God is right there with me in that cloud of trouble, and He’s taking me to a brighter place that I cannot yet see.