Gray skyies and a blue umbrella

Last spring, I listened to pastor Bob preach a Sunday morning message.  Later that day, I sat on my deck under my new but cheap $39.00 blue umbrella and reflected on the morning's sermon. It was a mild spring day. The scattered clouds overhead floated slowly past the sun. At times the sun is hidden by the clouds. Hiding behind the clouds and then reappearing, brightening up the day.  I find as I sit here, I discover there are benefits from the sun, as it does both hides and shows up.  When the sun shows up and is shining brightly, I experience its warmth, and the world around me reflects the sun's brilliance. When the sun is shining brightly and has not hidden behind a cloud, I also can begin to feel the heat that will eventually send me inside to the comfort of my airconditioned living room.
On the other hand, as the sun hides behind a large gray cloud, I am provided with cooling breezes, which can be a relief from the sun's blazing heat.   Bob Disher could be right; it is not necessarily harmful to be in the in-between.  What I want today is for the day to be bright sunny but not hot.  That is, at this moment, where I want to be.  I can complain like the  Israelites, and things are not how I like them.  I can even protest to God that I want my world bright and sunny and, at the same time, temperate and comfortable.  But Paster Bob may be on to something when he tells us that things we are complaining about may be part of Good's plan, and we should trust in the providence of God.  God changes our days from sunny and bright to cloudy.  God will even send some rain when God feels that it is needed. After all, where would we be with no rain from heaven? God will allow changes to happen when we need to experience the storms. When God allows it to rain on a beautiful spring day, It might just be a gift, not a punishment from God.  I think I will watch and wait to see what God does!