While recovering from major surgery I had a day of setback. My pain seemed different and more painful than previous days. As if the pain wasn’t enough to dampen my spirits it was a dreary morning. There was very little sunshine which eventually lead to pop-up thunderstorms in our area. Though the storms and rain weren’t close the gloomy gray sky was above as the thunder rumbled in the distance for what seemed like hours.
I needed some sort of pick me up and grabbed my Bible to see what I could read about the thunder. There are verses which say God’s voice resounds like thunder and others that refer to the thunder of the seas. Many verses speak of thunder throughout the end times in book Revelation but the scripture where I found encouragement for my pain was in Psalm 77 which was written by Asaph.
I didn’t know who Asaph was so I did a little more research. Asaph was believed to have been the director of music at King David’s Tent of Meeting and at Solomon’s temple. He was very much aware of King David’s and King Solomon’s ups and downs in life and knew about God’s abounding love and forgiveness.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
Psalm 77:7-8
Though these aren’t the exact thoughts in my mind I have lamented and prayed similar words asking God to lift the pain so I can function normally again. As I continued to read the Psalm, I was reminded God is with me until I am totally healed.
But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
Psalm 77:11-12
The Psalmist goes on to describe God’s mighty power as He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.
Your thunder roared from the whirlwind;
the lightning lit up the world!
The earth trembled and shook.
Your road led through the sea,
your pathway through the mighty waters—
a pathway no one knew was there!
You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep,
with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.
Psalm 77:18-20
Asaph started the psalm as if God was a distant part of his past, but he suddenly remembered God never leaves His people. He recalls the story of God’s great miracle passed down for generations. God is still the God of great miracles today. What a wonderful reminder for me.
No matter how gray the skies may be, how much the thunder rolls, or even how much pain we experience in our lives, God is always there. Sadly, we are the ones who walk away from God when our needs are the greatest. We often experience moments of despair like Asaph and need to remind ourselves—if God can part the waters of the Red Sea, He can definitely send us thunder as a reminder of His greatness.
How has God reminded you of His greatness this past week?
