"The Dark Cloud"
To begin with, we should know that God has a multitude of agendas He is working on, simultaneously, all to the glory of His great name. As such, He expects us to be completely at His disposal, submitting to anything at all, trusting that He is wise beyond comprehension, and certainly worthy to make decisions correctly in all cases; perfectly in fact. Myself being used in many offices at one time, He often brings some very bazaar events, which may have a variety of reasons.
One such scenario unfolded as I worked in my chosen trade, as a carpenter. I was building a roof structure for a home with another friend; it took the two of us just to handle the huge rafters. But, then my friend got all spun out, and ended up in jail, leaving me alone to try to finish the house. The job had to be completed before any money would be received from the work.
The problem was that it was nearly impossible for a single man to lift the rafters into place, and then to nail them too; it was completely overwhelming to do just one, let alone a whole house full of them. As I struggled, my quickly fatiguing arms seemed to buckle ever more under the load of each successive rafter; I was rapidly becoming despondent, and surely was not going to be able to finish the roof, at least not in time to get a paycheck for that time period. Still I lifted the next rafter into place with all my might, trying to go on. But, my heart was getting so heavy that I just did not feel like picking up the next rafter, each one now feeling like solid lead in my exhausted hands.
I was even more despondent because I felt justifiably bitter, having been left alone on the project, to do what was really beyond my abilities. My friend had become agitated at the difficulties of the job, the walk with God, and even at me. Then taking my family van without permission, he went on a drinking binge, hit another vehicle, and fled the scene. The pregnant woman nearly died, and her baby was prematurely born, also narrowly escaping death. Him doing me and others so much wrong, and leaving me there alone on such a difficult project, weighed my heart down terribly, so that I no longer felt like I could finish the job. My family was in real need for that check; but these truly were impossible circumstances.
Just about then I happened to notice an extraordinarily dark cloud, far off in the distance; though it was small, I noted how dark it was. And it happened to be in the direction from which the wind was blowing; so, though it was a long ways away, I put it in the back of my mind, to keep an eye on it, in the remote case that it could ever get close to my project.
Returning my focus to the dreadful task at hand, I took up another rafter, struggling to lift it high over my head. But the massive, 24 foot member slipped out of my tired hands, and came crashing down, very nearly injuring me in the process. I realized, as I picked up the lumber to try once more, that it would be impossible for me to finish the roof that day, which the contractor had asked me to do. But, just about then I looked in the direction of that cloud again, and was startled to see how much closer it had drawn to my job site; and it had grown even darker and much larger, all far quicker than I thought it could. I could see that it would not be all that long before that nasty storm might reach my area, with the possibility of a major downpour. Feeling the urgency from the looming storm, I felt a little inspired to press hard to complete as much as I could before the potential storm could strike.
With each ensuing rafter I looked over my shoulder at the storm, and it was clearly bearing down on me. I was not sure just how long I had before the storm struck, but as black as that cloud was, it was sure to be a complete washout. I began to scramble to get as much done as I possibly could before the now obvious gully washer struck. Harder and harder I pressed my body, now renewed by the challenge posed by the pressing storm, no longer even noticing my tired arms. The adrenaline began to flow, making the formerly impossibly heavy rafters seem to fly into their place. With each completed rafter I would look up at the approaching cloud; never had I seen such a dark cloud, now frowning down at me almost personally.
Driven hard by the incredible speed of the developing storm, now beginning to sweep in overhead, I could suddenly see that I might barely be able to complete the roof before it washed out the job. I knew it would be close, but with my focus now fully upon the rhythm of placing the rafters, rather than how difficult they were, timbers were flying into place even faster than the approach of the storm. Sure enough, I nailed the last huge stick of lumber into place just as the first drops began to fall, heavy winds beginning to buffet the job site. Quickly I scrambled to gather my tools into my truck, to keep them from getting soaked. As I closed the lid of my camper shell, hail began to fall.
I jumped inside the shelter of the cab of my truck to the loud sound of a burst of hail striking
the metal roof. Breathing hard from the race, I struggled to see through the quickly fogging windows, up at the roof, now standing complete. I just could not believe that I had gotten that impossible roof done by myself. But as I sat there listening to the pounding hail, I suddenly realized I had not: the Lord had helped me to do what I otherwise did not have the heart to complete. [ see also 1Kings 18:44-46]
This particular experience occurred early in my walk with the Lord. I now understand that the Lord can and does use anything He wishes to make the statements He wants in my life, to have things go His way, not mine. Was this particular event prophetic about this day, and the push to complete the rebuilding of His house? It could be; or it could be as simple as my God seeing to it that the family of His servant was properly provided for, to take home a much needed check for a job now complete. It is hard to say why God does all the things He does do; but one thing no longer is in doubt in my mind: God sent that cloud to drive me far beyond my abilities, and to do what otherwise would not have been done by a formerly frail little man [see Zech 12:8]. And for sure it is not at all about my agenda anymore, but His, even to the point of a very real death, for any of us He wishes [John 21:18-19; Luke 22:39-44]. There was never a more fervent prayer than this one, recorded here in Luke; and that by One Who could heal the blind and raise the dead with His prayers; but that cup was not taken away, and He died a most brutal death.
As I consider how that crucial story ended up (of Jesus’ request that the cup be taken away), I am thankful, even to the point of our very salvation, that our Lord God is Sovereign. It can be quite uncomfortable, and at times very painful, to serve the Lord. In truth, it is impossible to truly serve God and avoid some forms of very real suffering in His name [2 Tim 3:12; Rev 2:10; 1 Pet 4:12-19]. But if we head back for the comforts of our home to avoid the will of our Lord, then we surely will not see Him glorify Himself. And, if we jump out of the refining fires whenever He brings on the heat, then we will never get the dross out [Zech 13:9].
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