The rains had come, blocking the blue sky. I love the rain, how it slows down life, to a back-porch-sitting kind of speed. With equal measure, I love the blue skies, especially after the rains have washed them blue – all shades of blue, baby blue, cerulean, cobalt.
Driving home one night, I struggled. Laid it all out there to God – a heart wounded, torn and confused. This transforming from Glory to Glory (2 Cor 3:18), from strength to strength (Psalm 74:7) can be a hard thing. Some days, I’m better at it than others.
Driving up the mountain, to home – I looked up at the back side of the storms moving eastward, still dark, heavy with rain, threatening – not a back-porch-sitting kind of rain.
My son asked me a few days ago, how you know it’s God’s voice. He has some big decisions to make – with sound arguments on both sides of the decisions. A mother’s heart can fill up with pride and break at the same time as our children make decisions, whether it’s the easy-to-shepherd child or the hard-to-shepherd child.
“When you’re looking for an answer, it’s doesn’t come with a Volcano. The earth doesn’t shake to alert you. When He talks to you, it’s in a still, small voice ,” I answered, showing him 1 Kings 19:12). “The more you talk to Him, the more you recognize it.”
Then we talked about wanting to hang out with God, just like you want to hang out with your friends. Learning to hear his voice comes comes with real relationship, not just morning and bed-time prayers. Though I can encourage relationship development with the God who designed him, I cannot force that relationship to exist.
They have to want that relationship, arrange the meeting. Maybe it’s the type of parenting we do today, so involved, so coaching that our children don’t have the opportunity to initiate – from initiating work ethic at home to develop sports skills to initiating a relationship with God. Yes, God pursues. God’s there – but in order for him to work in our lives, in order to hear that still voice, we have to take that first step – “Draw close to me and I will draw close to you,” he says, “(James 4:8).
“I won’t lie to you,” I said. “There are times when I walk, it’s like God’s looped his arm through mine, and we talk – not necessarily about big things. The more you talk to Him, the more it’s like that . . . Go for a walk with Him. . . often.”
I told him about the time I came home and found his older brother between college classes, just lying on the floor. “I’m soaking,” he said, just listening, waiting, drawing close to hear God.
That day I was driving up the mountain home, I saw a bunch of grey, angry thunderheads. I was praying about a challenge, a challenge I really couldn’t control.
– and then I saw a blue-sky opening – and in that still, small voice, God said to me, “Look beyond the clouds to the blue sky.”
. . . and I did . . . I do . . . have faith that just like the blue sky is right there beyond the clouds, so to is God’s plan assured, though the clouds might try to block it!
Praying that this week, when the clouds threaten our peace and our hearts that we look beyond the clouds to the blue sky – and if we can’t see the blue sky for the greyness of the clouds, that we have faith it’s there, hope in a God who never abandons nor forsakes us, who never drops the thread of the plan, though we might drop it or tangle it all up. Praying that if the only way to go from Glory to Glory is challenge by challenge – that we never stop believing He is there, ready to save us, ready to help us make the easy and hard decision.
It’s hard sometimes, isn’t it? Hard to explain to our children what we can’t even always understand. Sounds like you’re doing a great job raising those boys. Thanks for the reminder today. Visiting from Weekend Brew.
It is challenging, Mary. I’m never quite sure what sticks and goes in deep and what just sloughs off. So glad you came by! Wishing you blue sky moments this week!
Seeing that break in the clouds is always a welcome sight. How blessed your son is to have you give him wisdom on listening to God.
All my sons take what I say differently – because they all communicate differently (love languages and spiritual gifts and how they talk). I can only love them the best way I can and walk in faith that the good stuff sticks. That break in the clouds – oh, yes, Lisa! Always welcome – and always looking for it! Wishing you blue sky moments this weekend!
What breath-taking beauty you’ve captured in those cloud formations and what a great mom you must be, Maryleigh! I loved reading about how your sons are hungry for knowing more about God and what He might whisper to them as they lay soaking in His presence. You’ve discipled them well, my friend! Such godly sons!
Now Beth – you know that what you and I perceive as a “great mom” and what these boys see – are so many times not on the same page – but I’m so glad you recognize my heart in trying to love them! Each son has come to the Father differently – some in a soaking way – some in a wrestling way – and in the process, God is teaching me so much about how to love better, how to have faith in the wait. I’ve been collecting clouds for a few years now – and when He gave me that revelation – I collected some more. So glad you stopped by – now, if only we could have coffee or tea with these visits! Blessings, friend!
I appreciate how you are teaching your kids about engaging in a relationship with God – and realizing it needs to be of their choosing. It can be hard when they don’t choose.
I don’t have children but I work with teens and their parents. My favorite moments are the ones when they ask my advice on something and when I give it they say, “That’s what my mom told me.” I love when I am reiterating what the parents are already teaching at home – because you are the greatest influence in their lives… even when sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.
Keep it up! (Visiting from Unforced Rhythms.)
Oh, Liz – what a blessing for those teens to have you there for them. Spiritual “Moms” are so important in our journey – who stand in the gap for you, me – and all these kids. I believe we’re not called to just mother our own! One of my sons got engaged this year. I asked him, “What’s the question I’m going to ask?” “Does she love Jesus?” he said. He’s the one I always thought things didn’t stick with:) Warmed my heart that apparently he’d been listening! Blessings to you Liz – as you spiritually mother these teens!
Seeing the blue skies through the clouds. Beautiful!
Looking for them with you! So glad you stopped by!
Beautifully written!
Like you, I want to write the story, not by the rules! So glad you stopped by! Wishing you blue sky blessings this week.
Beautifully said and just the words needed to hear today. You are a blessing!
Thank you, Susan – so glad I can encourage a lady who loves so many children so beautifully!
I love the beauty of your photos. Most of all I love the hunger of your sons to hear God’s voice for themselves. What a blessing.
Listening to the conversations of my sons as they stretch to reach and understand God- those moments are the best! Each one has a different conversation! So glad you enjoyed my clouds – so enjoyed looking for them and saving them with a message that meant so much to me!
Beautiful pictures and beautiful words. I love when you share your conversations with your boys. It always encourages me to move closer to mine.
The many ways He speaks to us are such a blessing. Thank you for linking at Unforced Rhythms.
Maybe that’s another reason God changed the languages at the tower of Babel – so that we would better pay attention to all the ways He does speak to us! Praying we both find his love letters around us this week!
I think you’re on to something here–we are so used to coaching and guiding our children’s every steps that we forget we can’t coach them into a relationship with their future spouse OR the God of the universe! Lifting you up in prayers, my friend :).
Thank you so much for the prayers, Anita! One of my boys told me once, “You can’t make me make good choices. I have to want to” – that was so hard but such powerful truth. It’s the same about entering a relationship with God – you have to want to! Shalom, friend!
I love this… those photo’s are gorgeous and your heart here spilled out is gorgeous too! I am a (somewhat) new Empty Nester and oh my goodness how I miss the days when I knew there were daily conversations with God and my girlie (because I started them, or was included in to them anyway!) It’s harder to let go in that aspect than in any of the others for me but again – clouds or clear skies, we know that He is with them, just as He is with us! Great post… great reminder!
Karrilee – you are so right. The hardest part of the nest emptying is the conversations – the time for little conversations to grow into something big, something revelation. I always imagined girlie conversations – but I have been surprised, blessed and confounded by these boy-to-men – and I’ve love it! The more my nest empties out (still 2.5 at home) – the more I find His love letters around me. Praying we both find them this week!
Very good post! Thank you so much. I think so often we are looking for all the bells and whistles when what we really need to do is be still and listen. What a great reminder! I’m glad I found your blog on Wedded Wednesdays, I look forward to reading more.
So glad you came by Miranda! Bells and Whistles sound so much more appealing than earthquakes and volcanos! LOL I’m a word person who could talk a plant to death – being still and listening has taken much coaching from God – so glad He is a patient coach! Wishing you blessings this week!
This was beautiful in so many ways. I am going to back to read again because this is just one of those posts that need to be read slowly and again. So glad I didn’t miss this. Blessings to you. xoxo
I love your reflections and correlating pictures! God knew I needed this today, so thank you 🙂
I just love your writing:).
I am glad the Lord doesn’t answer us in that rumbling of the earth or the explosive volcano. I am thankful that it is with His still quiet voice… Our God is awesome!
I know the more time I spend in His Word and with Him, praying, worshiping, just sitting, He is more clear. Someone once told me that when you have decisions to make and don’t know which on is God, just make a decision and step toward doing it. Then your will feel inside one of two things: total chaos or peace. Follow the peace!
My 16 year old was asking about that last night – how do you know when it’s God. You are so right – His way fills you with peace – even in the midst of the storm! I’m following that peace right now. I’m not saying I’m challengeless – but right now I feel so wrapped up in his peace!