This week my wife and I have been reviewing the subject of weather with my 9-year-old son for his science test at school. Part of the unit on weather is specifically learning about clouds. They are learning there are different types of clouds and these different types of clouds bring different types of weather. The various clouds look differently as well.

Primarily when I think about clouds, I instantly think of bad weather. When we say it’s cloudy, it is overcast, dark, and dreary. Sometimes fog, which are clouds that form low to the ground, impair visibility at night or early in the morning. When the skies get dark in the middle of the day, just as the sun is supposed to be seen shining bright, we realize that a storm is on the way. Clouds are often a sign of danger and possible destruction.

This is the way our lives seem at times. Everything may be going great. It seems as if the sun is shining brightly in your life. All of a sudden the clouds of adversity roll in and things begin to look dark. Life seems to get dreary and danger and destruction are just on the horizon. It is in these times when dreariness sets in and many lose hope and lose the will to keeping going on whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally, and/or spiritually. During some of the worst times, you lose your sense of direction and your vision becomes impaired with the fog that has set in your heart and mind. Winds of adversity begin blowing you every which way, getting you off the path of Christian living.

Clouds do have a purpose and there is a beauty to be found within every cloud that comes in our life. The clouds in the sky are there sometimes to bring water to a parched and dry earth. They sometimes provide protection as the sun bears down during the hot, humid summer days. We must realize that when our life seems to darken and the spiritual clouds roll into our life, that God has a purpose in sending these clouds. There are a lot of lessons we learn during our personal storms but ultimately God’s reason for sending those clouds is to draw us closer to Himself. You can never really appreciate the sunshine if you’ve never been in the darkness. So it is within our lives.

Another beauty found in the clouds is it is just a reminder that God is in complete and absolute control. Just as He sends the earthly clouds to bring us what we need, it is God who sends the spiritual storms. He knows exactly when to allow the storms to blow and He knows exactly when they need to cease. Behind every cloud, the sun still shines. We have assurance that the storm will pass and the sun will shine again within each of our lives. One of my favorite old hymns of the faith says it so well. “Oh they tell me of a home far beyond the skies. Oh they tell me of a home far away. Oh they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise. Oh they tell me of an unclouded day.”

So when I go out and look up at the cloudy days we often have, I rejoice in knowing that one day I’ll be in the that place called Heaven and all of life’s troubles and trials will be over. There will be no more storms and no more sorrow. With this in mind, the clouds of life display a beauty that points to another day where the sun shines eternally.

Victory Baptist Church will be having a Yard Sale/Hot Dog Sale on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the church located on Neal Shoals Road in Union. All proceeds will go to our youth for new playground equipment. The yard sale will begin at 7:30 a.m. and we will begin selling hot dogs at 10:30 a.m. Please come by to shop, eat, and visit with us.

Victory Baptist Church is worldwide now! Like us on Facebook at Victory Baptist Church of Union and visit our new website at www.vbcofunion.com. We will be constantly updating the site with new messages, pictures, and events. Tune in to WBCU 103.5 FM Sundays at noon for the Shining Light Broadcast. I preach a 15-minute message that I pray will be a blessing to those who listen. If you have a prayer concern, comment, or question, please write to: Voice of Victory, Attn: David Burrell, PO Box 1221, Pacolet, SC 29372, message me on Facebook, or send an e-mail to