When I first learned that fog is a cloud on the ground, I responded with mixed emotions. Part of me was exuberant because I always wondered what it would be like to be inside a cloud! Part of me, however, was disappointed because it isn’t really a tangible, touchable experience. Clouds sometimes look fluffy and soft, but they’re only that way to the sense of sight and not the sense of touch. Still another part of me remained in disbelief because surely being in an actual cloud will definitely be more of an enchanting moment. (Let a girl dream, yeah?)

Regardless of my response, it is pretty common knowledge that fog is a grounded cloud.

This Thanksgiving, I had the honor of joining my friend Charity and her charming family for the holiday break. We took a break from our weekly traditions of kettle bell swings and grands battements, trading them for long walks in the vineyards and pleasant conversations in the kitchen. The peace of Christ so saturated the entire atmosphere that even my heaviest burdens seemed to dissipate during this time of rest.

The first time we went for a walk to the nearest vista, we were met with an amazing view: vineyard rows of fall oranges and reds and yellows atop bright green rolling hills. In the distance cows were grazing on further hills, and even further were the peaks and valleys of a low mountain range. Overhead the sky danced between shades of golden sunshine, crystal blue, and soft white.

Lately I’ve had a significant inner battle about my desire to either capture a moment or live in it fully, so I was quite torn about whether or not I should take a picture of the vista. Pictures never do it justice! I ended up deciding to take a few pictures anyway. Later on different outings, I kept my phone put away and refused to capture other beautiful moments. There’s something special about sharing an experience only with the people who are present, as opposed to taking pictures to share it with the world. That’s just something extra on my heart.

Anyway, here’s a glimpse of the view:

It was stunning.

One thing I’d like to point out is how the clouds enhance the beauty in this moment. A pure blue sky will definitely catch my eye, but when the sky is coated and decorated with layers and shapes of clouds, it’s like lagniappe. My favorite experience with clouds is at sunset. Because of the interference of the clouds, certain rays of light are bent and that’s what gives sunsets those stunning reds, violent oranges, gorgeous purples, and vivid pinks. (I don’t really understand all the science, but google has more information if you’re interested in learning more.)

I love absorbing God’s glory in His beautiful creation. The next morning, Abba woke me up a little after 6 to spend the sunrise with Him. I grabbed my Bible, threw on a jacket and beanie, borrowed a pair of rain boots, and walked back to the vista we had visited as a group the day before. This time, however, the view was quite different. Fog covered everything. Whereas on Thursday I could see for miles and miles, this Friday morning I couldn’t see past 20 feet. I continued walking and talking with the Lord, hoping that as the sun rose, the fog would disperse.

I finally reached the top of the hill and sat down to patiently wait for the clearing. I waited, sang songs, waited, talked to Abba, waited, danced, and waited. Unfortunately I realized that the sun had already risen, but I still couldn’t see because the stubborn fog refused to move.

I felt so cheated! My Father had awoken me to spend another beautiful sunrise together, but I couldn’t see anything. Nothing. Because of this stubborn fog. Because of this stubborn grounded cloud. This cloud was hiding the beauty of this moment.

Then the Lord started to speak to me.

I love clouds. They’re one of my favorite things. But I did not feel love or appreciation for the cloud I was standing in. I only wanted to see clouds if they were going to enhance beauty, not hide it.

Abba reminded me of one early morning when I was sitting on the porch of our guesthouse in Nepal. This was another sunrise date with my Papa. I was sitting in silence, letting my eyes slowly adjust as dawn broke in and features of the landscape were highlighted moment by moment. In front of me was a lake sitting below a mountain range. The view was so peaceful, and I let my gaze constantly return to the pockets of fog that had settled on different places in the mountain. They looked like they just belonged there. It was beautiful and I wouldn’t have changed it if I could. Once again, the clouds were enhancing the beauty of the scene.

So what was different now? Clouds are just clouds, doing their job proclaiming God’s glory everywhere they go, wherever they linger for however long they are told.

The difference was my perspective. This one time I was inside the cloud, and I couldn’t see. I knew the beautiful hills and vineyards that were beyond my vision, but I temporarily couldn’t see them. It affected my attitude and how much I appreciated this sunrise with my Jesus.

Trials are like clouds. When they are distant, they enhance the beauty of the situation. When they are near, they seem to hide the beauty of the situation.

For example, right before I came to this internship at trEd, I was in need of financial support and God was asking me to wait on Him and trust Him. What a trial! It sounds so easy and simple, but in the moment I felt so helpless and hopeless. I knew that God is and always will be YHWH Jireh, but I couldn’t foresee any way that He could meet my needs – unless He did so miraculously.

Now that I am pretty distant from that trial and I see how He was growing my faith (because of course He did provide for me and He has continued to), I think it’s a beautiful way God brought glory to His name. I literally had no choice but to trust Jesus, and He came through. He was my help and my hope, even when I couldn’t see or feel Him. In the moment, when I was blinded by that cloud, it felt like anything but beautiful. Now, though, I have an amazing testimony of how Jesus met my needs once again. He is a beautiful provider.

Y’all, there is a battle in our mind: will we see from God’s perspective and believe His truth even when circumstances cloud our vision, or will we remain helpless and hopeless because we are believing the enemy’s lies?

Think of how our trials glorify Him: even in our hunger, Jesus is our Bread of Life. Even in our thirst, Jesus is our fountain of Living Water. If Jesus is our Shepherd, we shall not lack or want anything. (Psalm 23!) He works all things for our good! Even trials. Even clouds. My, my. He is faithful! Let our trials glorify His name. Let us trust His goodness and faithfulness and kindness, especially when we feel blind. Our circumstances don’t change who He is. Hallelujah!

Whatever the Lord is walking you through right now, trust Him as He holds your hand. You might not be able to see past 10 feet in front of you, but He is the God who knows all things! He will lead you in the way everlasting if you keep trusting His guidance. He will work this trial for His glory and for your upmost good!

Side note: even if the things He is promising to you in this cloud seem too good to be true, trust Him. He is so pleased with you. He enjoys lavishing His love on you. He is a good Father who gives good gifts at the right time. He is trustworthy, even in the fog.